SB    tl    73M 


2isx  REGIMENT 


N.  Y.  INF.  VOL 


BUFFALO'S  FIRST  REST. 


CHRONICLES 


OF    THE 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT 

NEW  YORK  STATE  VOLUNTEERS, 

(fcrntaing  a  Jull  fistarii  of  the  'gcgimcut, 

FROM   THE   ENROLLING  OF  THE  FIRST  VOLUNTEER   IN   BUFFALO, 

APRIL    15,    1 86 1,    TO    THE    FINAL    MUSTERING 

OUT,  MAY    18,   1865. 

INCLUDING  A  COPY  OF  MUSTER  OUT  ROLLS  OF  FIELD  AND  STAFF.  AND  EACH  COMPANY. 


BY  J.  HARRISON  MILLS, 


A    DISABLED    SOLDIER    OF   THE    REGIMENT. 


BUFFALO: 

RE-PUBLISHED  BY  THE  2isT  REG'T  VETERAN  ASSOCIATION  or  BUFFALO, 
BY  PERMISSION  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 

1887. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1863, 

BY  J.  HARRISON  MILLS. 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


3UFFALO,    N.    Y. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

News  of  the  Fall  of  Sumter,  and  how  it  was  Received. — War  Meeting  at  the  Old  Court 
House. — The  Volunteer  Rolls  Opened. — Organization  and, Departure  of  the  first 
four  Companies. — The  74th  Regiment  Prepare  for  the  Field. — Their  Efforts, 
Trials,  and  Final  Disappointment,  in  having  their  Marching  Orders  Counter 
manded. — Six  Volunteer  Companies  are  Formed  from  their  Ranks,  and  Ordered 
to  Elmira. — Their  departure  from  Buffalo .  .  1 1 

CHAPTER  II 

Organization  of  the  Regiment,  and  Election  of  Field  and  Staff  Officers. — The 
Companies  move  from  their  Temporary  Quarters  to  Barracks  No.  4. — Description 
of  the  Camp,  and  some  Accounts  of  our  Fare  and  Usage  Generally. — How 
Volunteers  should  be  Treated. — Routine  of  a  day  in  Camp. — A  Midnight  Alarm. 
— Our  First  Hard  March. — Good-bye  to  Elmira,  and  Hurrah  for  Dixie  .  .  .71 

CHAPTER  III. 

From  Elmira  to  Washington. — A  Glimpse  of  Affairs  at  the  Seat  of  Government. — Go 
into  Camp  at  Kalorama. — The  Spring. — Midnight  Alarm  again. — Capture  of  a 
Spy. — The  Adjutant  Outflanked. — A  Viper  Scotched. — First  Pay-day. — Life  in 
Camp,  and  how  we  take  it. — A  Lesson  Concerning  Entrenchments. — Marching 
Orders. — Rumors  and  Anticipations. — We  Celebrate  the  Fourth. — Our  Old 
Arms  are  Exchanged  for  New 83 

CHAPTER  IV. 

We  Cross  the  Potomac. — Fort  Runyon. — An  Advance  of  the  Army. — The  Fight  at 
Bull  Run. — What  we  saw  at  Fort  Runyon,  the  clay  after. — The  Defence  ol 
Washington. — An  Interval  of  Quiet. — Strengthening  our  Position. — The  2Oth 
of  August,  and  what  Occurred. — Fort  Jackson. — The  Advance. — Camp 
Buffalo.— Picket  Duty 88 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Advance  on  Upton's  Hill. — Our  New  Camp. — We  are  to  Build  a  Fort. — All 
Afloat. — Fort  Buffalo  Finished. — "All  Quiet  on  the  Potomac." — A  Black  day 
in  our  Calendar. — The  Funeral  of  Egbert  Wallace. — The  Grand  Review  of 
November  2Oth. — A  Rush  for  Glory. — Thanksgiving  Day  in  Camp. — Picket 
Duty. — A  Midnight  Alarm,  and  the  Porkers  Routed. — Lying  in  "  Anguish. "- 
A  Review  by  Governor  Morgan. — A  New  Camp  and  Winter  Quarters  — 
Another  Disappointment. — A  Sham  Battle. — Foraging. — Merry  Christmas. — We 
close  our  Account  with  the  year  1861,  and  Strike  a  Balance  Sheet  .  .  .  .117 


M128546 


CHAPTER  VI. 

New  Year's  Day  in  Camp. — A  Reverie. — Order  of  the  Day. — The  Weather  During 
January  and  February. — Mud. — Camp  Duty. — Drills. — Target  Practice. — Pay 
day  again. — The  Allotment  Act. — Kindness  of  the  Citizens  of  Buffalo. — The 
Lady  Visitors  in  Camp. — Washington's  Birthday. — A  Hurricane — Preparations 
for  an  Advance 139 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Camp  Misery,  alias  Camp  Disappointment. — Cold,  Wet  and  Hungry. — McClellan 
Embarks  for  the  Peninsula  and  we  are  left  behind. — Arrival  of  General 
Patrick. — Snow  and  Rain. — Clears  up. — "On  to  Richmond"  again. — Three 
days'  March. — Bristow. — More  Snow  and  Rain. — "  Eternal  Vigilance  "  and  no 
fires  allowed  on  Post. — Foraging.— Bushwhackers  Around. — "  Forward, 
March!" 154 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

We  reach  Falmouth  April  igtli. — Skirmish  of  the  Ira  Harris  Cavalry. — We  Camp 
"  Over  against  the  City." — The  Situation. — Contrabands  in  Camp. — The 
Woman  in  Black. — A  bit  of  Romance. — General  \Vadsworth's  Visit. — Removal 
of  our  Camp. — A  Terrestrial  Paradise. — Another  Removal  and  a  Night 
Alarm. — Death  of  Garrett  B.  Lock  wood. — We  cross  the  River. — Hazel  Dell 
and  Horse  Heaven. — In  line  of  Battle. — Picket  Duty. — More  Rain  .  .  .  164 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Arrival  of  the  President  and  Secretary  of  \Var. — A  Review. — McClellan'  Call  for 
Aid. — "The  Capitol  must  be  Protected." — General  McDowell's  Instructions. — 
On  to  Richmond. — Massaponax. — A  Delay. — The  Battle  of  Hanover  Court 
House,  to  Effect  a  Junction  between  the  two  Armies,  is  Countered  by  Jackson 
on  our  Right. — A  Countermarch,  Described  by  "  Bould  Soger." — The  Second 
Day's  March. — Making  Coffee. — Elk  Run. — Defeat  of  Banks. — From  Catlett's 
to  Markham  Station,  by  Rail,  and  the  Return  March 183 

CHAPTER  X. 

Camp  "  Rufus  King." — Jackson's  Escape. — McClellan's  Change  of  Base. —  Pope 
Assumes  Command. — July  4th,  1862. — "Sargeant  Delaney,  do  you  mane 
that?" — Our  last  Church  Service  at  "  Rufus  King." — We  cross  the  River  for 
the  third  time. — A  Successful  Raid. — Company  "  C  "  has  a  Fight. — Preparations 
for  an  Advance. — Recapitulation 196 

CHAPTER  XL 

Again  "  On  the  March." — Pope's  "Order  No.  5." — The  Ravages  of  War. — Battle 
of  Cedar  Mountain. — Too  Late,  as  Usual.  — A  Battle  Field  the  day  after. — We 
Encamp  upon  the  Mountain. —Waiting  for  Orders  again. — Dismal  Rumors. — 
The  Balance  Trembles :  Fate  Decides  against  Us,  and  "  Up  we  go." — The 
Storm  Gathers. — Night,  and  the  "  Retreat"  begins 211 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A  Weary  March. — Night, and  a  Halt. — No  Postponement  on  Account  of  the  Weather. 
— Behind  the  Rappahannock. — The  Buffalo  at  Bay. — Battle  of  the  2ist  of 
August.— Guarding  Fords  by  Night. — A  Demoralized  Contraband. — March  to 
Warrenton 

CHAPTER  Xlll. 

To  Sulphur  Springs. — The  "  Flying  Dutchman,"  and  his  Work. — A  Rebel  Picket 
Presents  Arms  to  Our  General. — The  Ball  Opens. — Skirmishers  to  the  Front. — 
The  "  Twenty-Onesters "  Develop  a  Capacity  for  "Keeping  a  Hotel."— 
Outflanked  by  Night. — Forced  march  to  Gainesville.—  The  Battle  of  August 
28th. — Jackson  Repulsed. — Too  Weak  to  Risk  another  Trial,  we  fall  back  to 
Manassas  by  Night 239 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Commencement  of  the  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  August  29th. — March  from 
Manassas  Junction  to  the  Dogan  House. — Fighting  in  the  Dark. — "  Friend  or 
Foe." — A  Bivouac  among  the  Dead. — "The  Red  Morning"  of  the  3Oth. — 
Grim  Array  of  Battle. — The  Tide  begins  its  Flow. — Our  Position. — "  Prepare 
to  Charge." — "Twenty-First!  Forward!" — "The  Gates  of  Hell!" — The 
Tide  begins  to  Ebb. — Defeats  and  Darkness  end  the  Day 253 

CHAPTER  XV. 

After  the  Battle. — The  Fight  at  Chantilly. — "  My  Maryland."— March  to  South 
Mountain. — Death  of  Captain  Hay  ward. — Battle  of  South  Mountain,  Septem 
ber  I4th,  1862. — A  Victory  and  its  Cost. — The  Rebel  Rout.— Appearance  of  the 
Field. — Pursuit  of  the  Enemy. — lie  is  Overtaken  at  Antietam  and  we  again 
Prepare  for  Battle 268 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

After  the  Battle. — The  Corn  Field. — On  the  Move  again. — The  Battle  of  Antietam. — 
Our  Killed  and  Wounded. — Burying  the  Dead. — Captain  Noyes'  Description 
of  the  Field 287 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

An  Interval  of  Quiet. — Letter  from  Chaplain  Robie. — Sabbath  Services. — General 
Patrick. — The  Hospitals  of  the  Potomac. — The  Sanitary  Commission. — More 
Letters. — General  Patrick  Assigned  for  Duty  at  Headquarters  and  Succeeded 
by  General  Paul. — Preparations  to  Advance 301 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

On  the  March  again. — "  Pound  Sterling." — The  Rigors  of  the  Fall  Campaign. — 
Crampton's  Gap. — Bloomfield.— The  Enemy  just  in  Advance. — We  reach 
Warrenton. — General  McClellan  Relieved  of  His  Command  and  Succeeded 
by  General  Burnside. — Consequent  Feeling  in  the  Army 311 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Our  third  March  to  Fredericksburg. — Death  of  Surgeon  Wilcox. — The  Weather 
becomes  Cold,  with  Snow. — Rigors  of  the  March. — Preparing  for  the  Fight. — 
The  Battle  of  Fredericksburg 318 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Our  Army  Retires  to  the  Potomac. — New  Year's  in  Camp. — We  Move  to  Acquia 
Creek. — Are  Transferred  to  the  Command  of  General  Patrick,  Provost  Marshal 
General. — Winter  Quarters. —  New  Duties. — Preparing  to  Muster  Out. — 
Homewnrd  Bound 332 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Excitement  in  Buffalo. — Action  of  the  Common  Council. —  a  Vote  of  Thanks. — 
The  Journey  Home. — Preparations  for  the  Reception. — Order  of  the  Procession. 
— Arrival  of  the  Train. — The  Tumult  of  Welcome. — Our  Progress  through  the 
Streets. — Honors  to  Lieuteuant  Mulligan. — Mr.  Beckwith's  Speech. — Colonel 
Rogers'  Reply. — Return  of  the  Old  Flag  to  the  Central  School  by  the 
Colonel.— Response  by  Miss  Julia  E.  Paddock. — The  Collation 341 


APPENDIX. 
Containing  Muster  Out  Roll  of  each  Company  of  the  Regiment, 349 


CHRONICLES 


Twenty-First  Regiment 


NEW  YORK  STATE  VOLUNTEERS. 


PREFACE 


Af  edition  of  "  The  Chronicles  of  the  Twenty-first 
Regiment,  New  York  State  Volunteers,"  was 
published  by  the  author  during  the  year  1864.  The 
edition  was  issued  in  numbers,  and  comparatively  few 
of  the  complete  work  are  now  extant. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  has  passed  since  the  great 
drama  for  national  existence  was  acted  before  an  aston 
ished  world,  in  which  the  combatants  on  each  side  num 
bered  millions,  making  it  the  most  wonderful  contest 
that  has  taken  place  between  civilized  peoples. 

As  these  events  fade  from  memory  with  the  lapse  of 
time,  and  the  incidents  of  the  strife  become  matters  of 
history,  the  part  taken  by  organizations  rise  in  import 
ance  to  their  members,  descendants  and  friends. 

The  history  of  this  regiment  is  a  part  of  the  history 
of  our  city,  and  while  its  campaigns  have  been  well  des 
cribed  by  local  historians,  it  is  of  paramount  importance 


X  PREFACE. 

that  the  part  taken  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion  by  those 
organizations  which  went  out  from  our  midst  should  be 
preserved  with  all  the  interesting  details  which  accom 
panied  the  march,  the  bivouac  and  the  battle. 

The  Buffalo  Twenty-first  Regiment  Veteran  Associ 
ation  therefore  determined  to  print  a  second  edition  of 
"  The  Chronicles."  The  permission  of  the  author  was 
promptly  and  gracefully  granted.  Though  printed  in 
different  and  less  expensive  form,  the  matter  has  not  in 
any  essential  degree  been  changed. 


CHRONICLES 


OF    THE 


TWENTY- FIRST  REGIMENT 

N.   Y.   S.   VOLUNTEERS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

News  of  the  fall  of  Sumter,  and  how  it  was  received. — War  meeting  at  the  Old  Court  House. — The 
volunteer  rolls  opened. — Organization  and  departure  of  the  first  four  Companies. — The  74th 
Regiment  prepare  for  the  field. — Their  efforts,  trials,  and  final  disappointment,  in  having  their 
marching  orders  countermanded. — Six  volunteer  Companies  are  formed  from  their  ranks,  and 
ordered  to  Elmira. — Their  departure  from  Buffalo. 

ON  the  same  page  of  our  morning  papers  with  the  report  of 
the  surrender  of  Sumter,  on  that  portentous  i3th  of  April, 
and  heading  the  first  column,  appeared  the  following  call : 

ATTENTION  !  ATTENTION  !  ! 

A  public  meeting  will  be  held  at  the  old  Court  House  this  (Monday)  evening,  at 
7^  o'clock,  for  the  purpose  of  instituting  movements  for  the  organization  of  a  force 
of  minute  men,  who  will  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  proceed  to  serve  in  defence 
of  the  State  or  National  Government  forthwith. 

BUFFALO,  April  i5th,  1861. 

Not  until  another  generation  shall  have  risen  :  not  until  another 
long  interval  of  peace  and  prosperity  shall  have  made  war  a  legend 
of  the  past, —  the  theme  of  frosty  veterans,  who,  by  the  winter  fire 
side,  will  prate  to  eager  listeners  of  the  bloody  days  of  the  great 
Rebellion, —  can  any  aggression  or  any  wrong  to  our  nationality 
cause  the  hot  tide  of  the  nation's  blood  to  rise,  with  such  an  impulse 
as  that  which  swelled  every  vein  at  the  news  of  Sumter's  downfall. 


12  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Not  that  we  were  totally  unprepared  for  the  blow,  for  the  news 
from  the  South  had,  like  the  menacing  murmurs  of  a  coming  storm, 
prepared  us  for  the  worst.  Yet  all  hoped  that  it  still  might  be 
averted  ;  and  even  when  at  last  the  foul  plot  reached  its  cul 
minating  point  in  that  dastardly  attack,  we  were  loth  to  credit  the 
woful  tidings.  But  as  conviction  forced  itself  even  upon  the  most 
incredulous,  how  many  hearts  that  never  felt  before  how  they  loved 
that  flag,  beat  high  with  martial  ardor.  Old  men  thought  bitterly 
of  their  rusted  blades  and  palsied  limbs.  Those  who  were  fit  for 
the  field  unconsciously  assumed  a  martial  bearing,  drew  stern  lines 
in  their  faces,  and  talked  of  naught  but  preparations  for  the  coming 
struggle.  Mothers  looked  tearfully  upon  their  eager  boys,  and 
sadly  blessed  and  bade  them  go  if  needed,  and  fair  girls,  with  smiles 
such  as  urged  knights  of  old,  called  chivalry  to  the  aid  of  patriotism. 
Every-day  avocations  were  neglected.  The  hammer  no  longer 
clinked  upon  the  anvil,  the  smith  was  studying  the  last  extra,  and 
the  baker  was  allowing  his  last  batch  to  burn,  while  he  held  forth 
to  a  group  of  excited  friends  at  the  corner  of  the  street.  The 
printers  alone  were  busy,  and  edition  after  edition  was  eagerly 
bought  up  by  the  crowds  besieging  the  newspaper  offices,  while 
screaming  newsboys,  like  heralds,  proclaimed  the  latest  tidings 
through  the  streets. 

Early  on  that  Monday  evening  an  excited  crowd  began  to 
collect,  and  long  before  the  hour  appointed  for  the  meeting  the  old 
Court  House  was  filled  to  overflowing.  Says  the  Express :  "  The 
turnout  was  tremendous  in  numbers,  exceeding  every  expectation, 
and  actually  embarassing  the  movement  for  which  it  was  sum 
moned,  by  the  unmanageability  of  the  multitude."  Finally  the 
meeting  was  called  to  order,  and  the  Hon.  Eli  Cook  unanimously 
chosen  as  Chairman.  Taking  his  place,  he  made  a  short  address, 
declaring  that  "the  time  for  discussion  has  passed,  that  it  no  longer 
becomes  any  citizen  to  question  who  is  responsible  for  the  dangers 
that  threaten  the  Union,  or  what  policy  would  have  served  best  to 
avert  the  calamity  of  civil  war."  He  said  that  an  actual  rebellion 
was  to  be  met  and  suppressed.  A  Government  defied  by  traitors, 
the  Union  menaced,  our  insulted  flag,  all  demand  forgetfulness  of 
party  differences,  and  a  common  rising  of  the  people  to  the  support 
of  the  Union  and  its  Government.  He  begged  that  by-gones  might 
be  by-gones,  and  that  every  one  in  whose  heart  glowed  a  single 
spark  of  patriotism,  would  stand  forth  for  the  defence  of  the  con- 


TWENTY- FIRST     REGIMENT.  13 

stitutional  authorities,  vindicate  the  Government,  suppress  the 
rebellion,  overthrow  and  punish  treason,  whatever  the  Cost,  and 
however  tremendous  the  exertion  required  might  be. 

After  an  interval  of  stormy  applause,  the  roll  was  called  for,  but 
so  great  was  the  pressure  of  the  crowd  that  it  was  clear  nothing 
could  be  done  without  effecting  an  adjournment  to  some  more 
commodious  place.  Accordingly  it  was  announced  that  the  roll 
would  be  opened  at  Kremlin  Hall,  where  all  who  desired  to  volun 
teer  were  requested  to  assemble.  That  place  proving  to  be  alike 
incapable  of  accommodating  the  rush  of  eager  patriots,  no  alterna 
tive  was  left  but  to  meet  in  the  open  air.  Accordingly  the  crowd 
were  directed  to  gather  in  front  of  the  American  Hotel.  There, 
from  the  balcony,  the  assembled  thousands  were  addressed  by  a 
number  of  speakers.  Gen.  Scroggs  being  called  upon,  explained 
the  conditions  under  which  those  who  should  enroll  themselves 
would  enter  the  service  of  the  Government.  "  The  term  for  enlist 
ment  would  not  exceed  three  months,  all  would  enter  the  ranks  up 
on  an  equal  footing,  as  the  organization  of  companies  and  regiments 
would  be  perfected  by  electing  the  officers,  each  volunteer  receiving 
the  same  pay  and  rations  as  if  in  the  regular  service." 

Dr.  Hunt,  who  had  been  elected  Secretary  of  the  meeting,  was 
next  called  upon,  and  after  a  stirring  and  effective  speech,  was  fol 
lowed  by  Mr.  Cook,  in  response  to  a  call,  F.  J.  Fithian,  Lyman  B. 
Smith,  John  E.  McMahon,  and  C.  S.  Macomber,  who  each  spoke 
briefly  and  to  the  same  stirring  effect,  declaring  that  "in  the  present 
exigency  of  the  Government,  party  lines  must  be  covered,  and  the 
loyal  people  of  the  Union  rally  as  a  unit  to  the  support  of  its 
authorities." 

Dr.  Hunt  then  announced  that  the  roll  prepared  for  the  occasion 
had  been  sent  to  the  old  Court  House,  where  all  who  desired  to 
enter  their  names  were  requested  to  proceed,  and  the  meeting  was 
declared  adjourned. 

Almost  the  entire  mass  rushed  to  the  Court  House,  which  was 
instantly  full,  thousands  waiting  outside,  and  so  great  was  the  pres 
sure  that  but  few  even  of  those  who  gained  an  entrance  could  reach 
the  table,  consequently  only  about  one  hundred  names  were  taken 
down,  and  those  with  the  utmost  difficulty.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  preamble,  with  the  names  enrolle.d  on  that  occasion  : 

Whereas,  The  standard  of  Rebellion  has  been  raised,  and  war 
waged  against  the  Government  of  the  United  States  : 


CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


And  Whereas,  The  President,  by  his  proclamation,  has  called 
upon  the  loyal  and  true  men  of  the  country  to  rally  in  defence  of 
the  Government,  and  for  the  enforcement  of  the  laws,  therefore,  we, 
the  undersigned,  residents  of  the  City  of  Buffalo,  County  of  Erie, 
and  State  of  New  York,  do  hereby  severally  enroll  ourselves  as 
volunteers,  to  serve  as  a  military  force  in  defence  of  the  integrity 
of  our  State  and  National  Government,  and  of  the  honor  of  our 
glorious  flag. 

We  will  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  march  whenever  re 
quired.  We  will  serve  for  the  term  of  three  months,  unless  sooner 
discharged  in  consequence  of  peace  being  restored  to  the  country. 

As  such  volunteers,  we  pledge  ourselves  to  abide  by  the  laws 
and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  military  force  of  the 
State  of  New  York ;  and,  until  a  formal  organization  is  attained, 
according  to  law,  temporary  commanding  officers  shall  be  chosen,  as 
necessity  may  require. 


JOHN  NORRIS, 
AUG.  SCHUESTER, 

A.  KOLLINS, 

CHAS.  R.  PETERSON, 
CHAS.  WADSWORTH, 
JOHN  NICHOLSON, 
JOHN  L.  CURTENIUS, 
HENRY  MCKANN,  JR., 
E.  S.  NASH, 
JOSEPH  V.  TUTTLE, 
GEO.  W.  FOOTE, 

G.  GlELSDORF, 
A.  McGACLIANT, 

W.  II.  FARGO, 
GEO.  B.  CHANNING, 
JOSEPH  RICHARDSON, 
WM.  II.  FIELD, 
FRANK  SWEIGLE, 
HENRY  ROMAINE, 
J.  CUNNINGHAM, 
JOHN  CARRIGAN, 
JAS.  KENNEDY, 
J.  ADMOND, 
JOHN  H.  STOKES, 
WM.  M.  SLOAN, 
EDWARD  DONAHUE, 
FRED.  HANKS, 
HENRY  FLANAGAN, 


WM.  LAVERACK, 

F.  J.  FlTHIAN, 

CHAS.  HERROLD, 
WM.  TOLE, 
DAVID  HEPKIN, 
II.  W.  HENDERSON, 
JOHN  B.  SEWELL, 
C.  HARLAND, 
WM.  BISHOP, 
E.  L.  HAYWARD, 
L.  HOFFMAN, 
JOHN  GEO.  TEMIPFEL, 
JAS.  HAMILTON, 
SANFORD  B.  HUNT, 
JOSEPH  F.  NEGUS, 
WM.  MCKAY, 
WM.  R.  DUDEHUE, 
ADAM  BERGMAN, 
R.  H.  MAYNARD, 
JOHN  II.  MILLS,  -f"- 
SAMUEL  B.  HARD, 
JOHN  DEAN, 
HERMAN  BULL, 
W.  II.  DREW, 
WM.  DORSHEIMER, 
JOHN  DRUSON, 
H.  I).  PERRY, 
EGBERT  SHEPHERD, 


G.  A.  SCROGGS, 
J.  H.  BLAKE, 
R.  P.  GARDNER, 
C.  H.  WILLIS, 
PH.  KOIL, 
JAS.  HANSON, 
E.  E.  HAZARD, 
WARREN  B.  GIBBS, 
II .  G.  THOMAS,  ~-~ 
"T").  L.  ABERDEIN, 
JOHN  WEIGLIS, 
CHAS.  W.  HOLDEN, 
CHAS.  REESE, 
HENRY  KLEIN, 
JOHN  HARRISON, 
PETER  SPEIS, 
JACOB  .SCHINCK, 
SAMUEL  BUNTING, 
JAMES  STEWART, 
JULIUS  BOVINKLK, 

I.  P.  DECABELLERO, 
CHAS.  HAYHOLD, 

II.  M.  JOHNSON, 
JOHN  HOWCUTT, 
W.  II.  WILLIAMSON, 
WM.  GRANDISON, 
WA'IKINS  WILLIAMS, 

W.  G.  MAXEE, 


-h     -f 
-/  L^ 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  15 

E.  NORRIS,  JOHN  LLOYD,  S.  G.  SULLIVAN, 

JAMES  SIMON,  CHARLES  M.  BENNETT,  ARCHIBALD  JOHNSON, 

CHARLES  BEN/I  NO,  J.  E.  RANSOM,  LEVI  VALLIER, 

CHARLES  EWERS,  JOHN  LEMMON,  FRED.  SOMERS, 

JAMES  ASH,  JULIUS  WIRTH,  JOHN  M.  LAYTON, 

ERHARDT  SCHLEECIIER,  F.  E.  LOTRIDGE,  PHILIP  BLICH, 

During  the  forenoon  of  the  i6th,  the  following  names  were 
added  • 

II.  C.  BLANCHARD,  AUGUSTUS  N.  GILLETT,  JOHN  N.  PEARODY, 

WM.  O.  BROWN,  JR.,  FRANK  A.  LOTRIDGE,  CONRAD  WAGNER, 

JOHN  LANGINHARDIR,  CI-IAS.  E.  CLARK,  MARLHOROUGH  WELLS, 

WM.  T.  HENRY,  J.  M.  ESTAHROOK,  FRED.  R.  MINERY,  JR., 

PETER  SCAUS,  G.  W.  HAWKINS,  JUSTIN  BAMAT, 

HENRY  HOEFER,  JAMES  DOVE,  HENRY  ZINK, 

EMIL  WESTPHALL,  P.  M.  OSTIS,  JOHN  GINTHER, 

L.  H.  BRIGGS,  E.  VAN  SICKLEN,  C.  E.  LOCKWOOD, 

FRED.  SMITH,  HENRY  KNOEDEL,  HARDING  NEWCOMH, 

JOHN  BOWER,  RIIEINHARDT  GEILER,  JOSEPH  WATER,  M.  D. 

On  the  evening  of  the  i6th  a  second  meeting  of  those  who  had 
volunteered,  was  held  in  the  chambers  of  the  Court  House.  We 
subjoin  the  report  of  the  Express  : 

"  In  the  absence  of  the  President,  Dr.  Hunt,  Secretary  of  the 
meeting  of  Monday  night,  presided. 

"After  an  explanation,  by  Gen.  Scroggs,  of  the  extremely 
liberal  terms  of  the  new  military  act,  the  roll  was  called,  the  list 
corrected,  and  a  number  of  new  names  added. 

"After  debate,  in  which  Capt.  Rogers,  F.J.  Fithian,  Mr.  Drew, 
and  others,  participated,  it  was  resolved  to  embody  one  hundred  of 
those -already  enlisted,  into  the  first  company  of  the  proposed 
regiment,  and  Gen.  G.  A.  Scroggs  was  unanimously  chosen  tem 
porary  Commandant,  to  drill  the  company. 

"  Gen.  Scroggs  returned  thanks  and  accepted  the  duty.  He 
announced  that  meetings  for  drills  would  be  immediately  appointed. 

"  Pursuant  to  motion,  the  Chair  appointed  Messrs.  Fithian, 
Dorsheimer,  Hayward,  Vallier  and  Scroggs,  as  a  Board  of  Man 
agers  to  establish  drill  rooms  and  attend  to  necessary  details. 

"The  meeting,  though  largely  drawn  upon  by  the  great  public 
demonstration  at  the  Theatre,  was  full,  earnest,  and  enthusiastic." 

On  the  1 8th,  Gen.  Scroggs  called  a  meeting  of  the  volunteers, 
to  be  held  at  the  recruiting  rooms  in  the  Arcade  Block,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  organizing  the  first  company. 


1 6  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

About  one  hundred  and  forty  of  those  enrolled  answered  to 
their  names ;  and  after  the  roll  had  been  properly  arranged,  they 
proceeded  to  choose  their  officers.  The  following  were  unanimously 
elected  : 

WM.  H.  DREW — Captain. 
R.  P.  GARDNER — 1st  Lieutenant. 
E.  R.  P.  SHURLEY — 2d  Lieutenant. 
LEVI  VALUER — Orderly  Sergeant. 

The  result  of  each  ballot  was  greeted  with  hearty  cheers, 
responded  to  by  the  officers  in  words  of  acknowledgement,  and 
pledges  of  their  best  efforts  to  promote  the  good  cause  in  which 
they  had  embarked. 

The  company  thus  formed  (afterwards  known  as  "  A ")  im 
mediately  began  to  prepare  for  service,  drilling  every  day  in  the 
Court  Street  Market,  under  Lieut.  Gardner, — a  veteran  who  had 
seen  service  in  Nicaraugua, — and  the  rapidity  with  which  they 
acquired  the  rudiments  of  a  soldier's  education,  was  a  subject  of 
admiring  remark. 

Meantime,  recruiting  at  the  Arcade  office  (327  Main  street) 
went  on  cheeringly.  Neither  were  the  old  military  organizations 
idle.  Expecting  to  be  called  among  the  three  months'  troops,  the 
74th  and  65th  Regiments  of  State  Militia  opened  recruiting  offices 
for  the  purpose  of  filling  up  their  ranks  for  the  field. 

On  the  iQth,  Gen.  Randall,  of  the  Eighth  Division, — of  which 
these  regiments  formed  a  part, — received  the  following  message : 

ALBANY,  April  igih,  1861. 
Major-General  RANDALL,  Eighth  Division: 

What  force  could  you  furnish  from  your  Division  on  forty-eight  hours'  notice  ? 

J.  M.   REID,  JR., 

Adjutant-  General. 

Gen.  Randall  at  once  telegraphed  to  all  the  regiments  in  his 
Division.  Col.  Forbes,  of  the  68th,  (Fredonia,)  replied:  "I  can 
furnish  two  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Send  on  your  orders."  Col. 
Abbott,  of  the  67th,  was  in  town,  and  also  reported  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men  ready  for  duty.  The  74th  and  65th  could  each  muster 
from  two  hundred  to  three  hundred  men.  Col.  Lansing,  Division 
Inspector,  went  to  Albany  on  the  same  night  to  report  to  the 
Governor,  and  obtain  a  few  days'  further  time  in  which  to  prepare. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  17 

At  noon  of  the  next  day,  Gen.  Randall  received  from  Albany 
the  following  dispatch  : 

ALBANY,  April  2Oth,  1861. 
General  RANDALL  : 

I  have  said  to  the  Adjutant-General,  that  Cols.  Fox  and  Forbes  would  furnish 
two  hundred  and  fifty  men  each;  Col.  Krettner  two  hundred  men;  Col.  Abbott  one 
hundred  and  fifty,  on  three  days'  notice,  under  old  organization.  The  plan  of  the 
Government  is  to  employ  the  existing  militia  first  and  use  the  volunteers  to  relieve 
them.  The  United  States  Government  has  telegraphed  the  Governor  not  to  send 
them  any  more  troops  at  present.  The  Colonels  mentioned  herein  should  make 
every  effort  to  fill  up  their  regiments.  They  will  all  be  wanted. 

H.  L.  LANSING. 

On  Saturday,  the  2oth  day  of  April,  Capt.  Adrian  R.  Root 
opened  the  recruiting-  office  of  the  74th  in  Dudley  Hall,  the  pro 
prietor  kindly  offering  the  premises  for  the  purpose.  Lieuts.  Stern- 
berg  and  Doyle  were  authorized  to  raise  recruits  for  Co.  "A."  "  B," 
Capt.  Gaylorcl ;  "  C,"  Capt.  Rogers;  "  D,"  Capt.  Bidwell,  and  "  F," 
Capt.  Clinton,  were  already  full,  and  "E"  was  fast  attaining  its 
needed  number.  At  the  same  time  the  65th  began  recruiting  in  the 
Vollmer  Block.  Nearly  every  company  drilled  in  the  forenoon  and 
evening,  and  everything  seemed  favorable  to  the  speedy  availability, 
and  departure  for  the  field,  of  the  two  regiments. 

Knowing  that  many  of  those  who  wished  to  volunteer  must 
leave  families  dependent  upon  their  pay  alone  for  a  living,  the 
citizens  of  Buffalo  had  already  devised  a  plan  for  their  relief,  and 
for  several  days  a  subscription  had  been  circulating  among  those 
who  were  better  able  to  serve  their  country  in  that  way,  indirectly, 
than  to  fight.  Up  to  Monday  this  fund,  for  the  benefit  of  the  families 
of  volunteers,  had  reached  twelve  thousand  dollars ;  and  on  Mon 
day,  the  22d  of  April,  the  Common  Council  followed  up  the  generous 
gift  with  an  appropriation  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  the  same 
purpose,  to  be  consolidated  with  the  subscription  fund,  under  the 
control  of  a  joint  committee,  and  to  be  known  as  the  Fund  for  the 
Defence  of  the  Federal  Union.  At  the  same  time  the  caption  of 
the  old  subscription  list  was  altered  to  read  as  follows : 

"The  undersigned  severally  agree  to  pay  the  sums  set  opposite 
our  names,  to  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  Common  Council  and 
citizens  of  Buffalo,  to  constitute  a  fund  for  the  support  of  the  families 
of  members  of  volunteer  and  other  military  companies  of  Buffalo, 
during  their  term  of  service  respectively,  and  for  such  similar  pur 
poses  as  may  be  approved  by  such  committee,  or  by  a  vote  of  a 


!3  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

quorum  thereof;  it  being  intended  that  such  committee  shall  give 
aid  to  such  volunteers  and  others  from  the  date  of  enrollment  until 
mustered  into  service,  in  such  form  and  to  such  extent  as  they  shall 
deem  proper  and  expedient." 

Up  to  May  Qth,  the  sum  of  twenty-seven  thousand  five  hundred 
and  seventy-five  dollars  had  been  subscribed  to  the  fund  by  our 
free-hearted  citizens. 

The  roll  at  the  volunteer  recruiting  office  in  the  Arcade  having 
been  increased  by  the  addition  of  a  sufficient  number,  the  officers 
in  charge  proceeded  on  the  22d  of  April  to  organize  three  additional 
companies.  The  officers  were  elected  by  ballot,  as  follows  : 

2C1  Co. — JOHN  M.  LAYTON — Captain. 

AUGUSTUS  N.  GILLETT — ist  Lieutenant. 
JOHN  NICHOLSON — 2d  Lieutenant. 

3d  Co. — E.  L.  HAYWARD — Captain. 

SAMUEL  WILKESON — ist  Lieutenant. 
HUGH  JOHNSON — 2d  Lieutenant. 

^th  Co. — HoRACEG.  THOJ,L^— Captain. 

ABBOT  C.  CALKINS — ist  Lieutenant. 
WM.  O.  BROWN,  JR. — 2d  Lieutenant. 

On  the  30th,  (April,)  Capt.  Drew's  Co.  was  accepted  by  the 
Governor.  All  other  companies  were  to  be  accepted  as  soon  as 
their  muster-rolls  were  full,  and  they  had  been  inspected. 

Accordingly,  Capts.  Layton,  Hayward  and  Thomas,  completed 
their  rolls  on  the  same  day,  and  forwarded  them  to  Albany.  As 
the  date  of  their  organization  was  the  same,  the  question  of  seniority 
was  afterwards  decided  by  lot  in  favor  of  CapL  Thornas.  Capt. 
Hayward  being  next. 

These  companies  were  quartered  at  the  Niagara  Market  while 
awaiting  their  orders,  Capt.  Drew,  as  senior  officer,  having  charge 
of  the  station.  A  fifth  company,  under  Capt.  Strong,  not  yet  full, 
occupied  the  cotton  factory,  otherwise  known  as  the  Heywood 
Armory. 

The  first  four  companies,  having  been  inspected  by  Gen. 
Scroggs,  and  accepted  by  the  Governor,  were  ordered  to  leave 
Buffalo  for  Elmira  on  Friday,  May  3d.  The  subjoined  report  of 
their  departure  is  from  the  Morning  Express  of  the  4th  : 

"The  departure  of  the  volunteers  yesterday  afternoon  was  a 
scene  worth  witnessing.  Co.  '  E,'  Capt,  Strong,  was  mustered  at 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  1 9 

the  '  Heywood  Armory,'  and  acted  as  military  police  on  the  line  of 
march,  and  at  the  depot.  This  company  is  made  up  of  stalwart 
men,  is  already  accepted,  and  will  be  off  in  a  day  or  two.  It  is 
officered  by  gentlemen  of  high  character. 

"  The  Union  Continentals,  Ex- President  Fillmore  in  command, 
turned  out  as  escort.  Their  appearance  was  magnificent.  Made 
up  of  the  tall  men  of  the  older  race,  their  appearance  dignified  and 
honored  the  scene.  Mr.  Fillmore  was  made  for  a  field  marshal. 
We  heard  dozens  of  men  say  that  their  hearts  never  so  warmed  to 
him  as  yesterday,  when  he  led  the  Union  Continentals  down  Main 
street. 

"  The  line  of  march  was  formed  on  Court  street,  at  the  Armory. 
It  passed  up  Court  to  Niagara  street,  thence  by  Court  to  Main, 
down  Main  to  Scott,  along  Scott  street  to  Michigan,  and  thence  to 
the  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  &  Erie  depot,  entering  on  Exchange  street.  All 
along  the  route  an  immense  multitude  was  gathered,  and  flags 
flaunted  from  the  buildings.  The  stores  of  Hamlin  &  Mendsen, 
Sherman  &  Barnes,  and  Howard  &  Whitcomb,  were  conspicuously 
dressed  out  in  the  Red,  White  and  Blue. 

INCIDENTS     OF     THE     MARCH. 

"  The  line  was  formed  with  the  Union  Cornet  Band  in  advance, 
the  Union  Continentals  as  escort,  the  Volunteers,  and  citizens.  At 
Niagara  Square  an  immense  concourse  was  gathered  opposite  a 
platform  near  the  Central  School,  where  the  Regimental  Flag  was 
to  be  presented.  The  Continentals  passed  and  halted  on  Court 
street,  while  the  Volunteers  formed  by  companies  in  front  of  the 
stand. 

"  On  the  stand  were  thirty-four  young  ladies  of  the  Central 
School,  dressed  in  Red,  White  and  Blue,  the  Principal,  Mr.  Arey, 
the  School  Superintendent,  Gen.  Scroggs,  and  Capt.  Drew. 

"  On  the  part  of  the  School,  the  address  of  presentation  was 
delivered  by  one  of  the  pupils,  Miss  Julia  Paddock,  in  the  following 
admirably  conceived  and  expressed 

ORATION. 

"  The  hour  we  have  so  long  expegted  has  at  last  arrived.  Our 
country  calls  for  brave  men,  true  men,  men  who  will  stand  by  their 
principles  —  men  who  will  defend  the  right  —  to  come  forward  and 
vindicate  her  cause.  We  feel  proud  that  Buffalo  has  responded  so 


20  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

nobly  to  the  call.  The  ranks  of  volunteers  before  us  prove  that  the 
'  Queen  of  the  Lakes '  is  not  devoid  of  that  patriotism  which 
strengthens  the  heart  and  arm  to  deeds  worthy  of  the -spirit  of  '76. 
We,  the  scholars  of  the  Central  School,  present  this  flag  to  you  as 
a  testimonial  of  our  love  of  country,  and  admiration  of  all  acting 
patriots.  We  feel  assured  that  you  will  stand  by  the  glorious  old 
flag  of  our  forefathers ;  that  you  will  defend  the  stars  and  stripes, 
though  it  cost  you  your  heart's  blood.  In  the  thickest  of  the  fray, 
look  up  to  this  banner  and  think  of  the  many  hopes  that  centre  in 
your  action  —  of  the  many  prayers  hourly  offered  up  for  your  cause 
—  then  do  your  duty  as  men  and  patriots,  and  may  God  speed  ye 
and  the  right." 

"  Her  elocution  was  remarkably  good  and  was  fully  appreciated 
and  loudly  cheered  by  the  rough  soldiers  before  her. 

"  Capt.  Drew,  Co.  '  A,'  accepted  the  flag,  and  the  speech  of 
acknowledgement  was  made  by  Gen.  G.  A.  Scroggs,  in  an  address 
of  eloquent  patriotism,  graceful  and  appropriate  to  the  stirring 
occasion.  Dr.  Hunt  also  spoke  briefly,  and  the  '  Star  Spangled 
Banner'  was  splendidly  sung  by  the  thirty-four  young  lady  repre 
sentatives  of  the  school,  led  by  Mr.  Vining.  The  concluding 
chorus  was  sung  by  the  crowd  with  terrific  energy.  During  all  the 
speeches  the  order  of  the  occasion  was  only  interrupted  by  the 
irrepressible  cheers  of  the  volunteers  and  crowd. 

"The  flag  is  the  offering  of  the  Central  School  to  the  volun 
teers.  It  is  an  army  regulation  flag,  strict  in  its  proportions,  made 
of  the  richest  silk,  and  the  staff  elegantly  surmounted  by  a  golden 
eagle,  supporting  bullion  cords  and  tassels. 

'  The  column  down  Main  street  was  increased  by  the  accession 
of  Eagle  Hose  2,  and  Taylor  Hose  i,  to  the  procession,  which  was, 
as  stated  above,  led  by  Mr.  Fillmore.  Flags  and  handkerchiefs 
waved,  cheerful  '  good-bye's '  were  exchanged,  and  the  whole  scene 
was  one  of  the  most  exciting  ever  witnessed  in  our  streets. 

"  Arrived  at  the  depot,  the  procession  opened  ranks,  and  the 
Volunteers  passed  through,  taking  their  places  in  the  cars  in  an 
orderly  and  systematic  manner.  There  were  many  leave-takings, 
many  '  God  bless  you's,'  many  tears  and  many  cheers ;  but  through 
all,  the  prevading  feeling  was  one  of  hearty  and  cheerful  enthusiasm. 
The  hose  companies  singled  out  their  members,  and  we  saw  Capts. 
Thomas  and  I  I  ay  ward,  and  Liciits.  Gillett  and  Gardner,  treated  to 
a  tossing  in  the  air  as  a  fireman's  farewell  greeting. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  21 

"  So  went  off  the  Volunteers,  leaving  sad  hearts  behind  them, 
as  all  partings  do  ;  but  destined,  we  hope  and  believe,  to  honor  and 
sanctify  the  families  they  represent  and  the  city  whose  children  they 
are,  by  courage  on  the  field,  endurance  in  the  camp,  and  patriotism 
everywhere.  God  bring  them  back  to  us  with  honor  unstained,  and 
heroism  vindicated  !  If  otherwise,  let  them  never  come  at  all !  " 


At  this  time  the  members  of  the  74th  were  in  a  terribly  used 
up  condition  of  disappointment  and  chagrin,  although  efforts  were 
being  made  to  recover  the  ground  lost  while  waiting  for  the  three 
month's  call,  by  re-organizing  upon  the  same  footing  with  the  Vol 
unteers.  To  explain  the  necessity  of  this  movement,  we  will  turn 
back  to  what  followed  Inspector  Lansing's  report,  per  telegragh,  to 
Gen.  Randall,  from  Albany. 

Every  effort  was  immediately  made  to  place  the  command  upon 
a  war  footing,  and  on  April  23d,  Gen.  Randall,  accompanied  by 
Hon.  E.  G.  Spaulding,  went  to  Albany,  with  the  object  of  obtaining, 
if  possible,  an  order  for  the  Regiment  to  move  without  re- organiz 
ing  in  conformity  with  the  new  law,  which  made  the  term  of  service 
two  years  instead  of  three  months,  except  in  cases  where  regiments 
equipped  and  armed  themselves. 

On  the  evening  of  the  24th,  the  following  dispatch  was  received 
by  Col.  Fox  : 

ALBANY,  April  24th,  1861. 
Col.  Fox  : 

Your  Regiment  is  ordered  to  leave  Buffalo  for  Elmira  one  week  from  to-day. 
Col.  Krettner  is  expected  to  be  wanted  soon  after. 

NELSON  RANDALL. 

We  were  drilling  in  the  Arsenal  when  the  above  was  received. 
Lieut.  Alberger,  of  "  D,"  bolted  in  with  the  news,  and  when  the 
boys  heard  it  they  went  half  crazy  with  delight.  The  hall  shook 
with  their  cheers,  and  every  cap  went  up  to  the  roof.  After  the 
tantalizing  delays  and  harassing  rumors  of  the  past  two  weeks,  the 
news  seemed  too  good  to  be  believed.  And  so  it  was. 

The  great  difficulty  now  was  the  procuring  of  uniforms,  only  a 
part  of  the  regiment  having  uniforms,  and  those  only  intended  for 
parade,  and  unfit  for  the  field.  As  the  command  must,  to  come 
under  the  Congressional  provision  for  three  months'  men,  uniform 


22  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

and  equip  itself,  the  Common  Council  came  generously  to  the 
rescue  with  an  appropriation  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  for  that 
purpose. 

On  his  return,  Gen.  Randall  issued  the  following-  order  : 

HEADQUARTERS  EIGHTH  DIVISION,  N.  Y.  S.  M. 

April  25th,  1861. 
Special  Order  No.  I. 

The  Major-General  hereby  promulgates  the  following  special  order  from  the 
Commander-in-Chief : 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS,  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

ALBANY,  April  24th,  1861. 
Special  Order  No.  85. 

Major-General  Nelson  Randall,  commanding  Eighth  Division,  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  is 
hereby  ordered  to  detail  the  74th  Regiment,  Col.  Watson  A.  Fox,  to  proceed  on 
Wednesday,  the  first  day  of  May,  1861,  to  Elmira. 

Col.  Fox  will  report,  on  his  arrival  in  Elmira,  to  Brigadier-General  R.  B.  Van 
Valkenburgh,  in  charge  of  the  Depot  for  Volunteers,  for  further  instructions. 

Major-General  Randall  is  further  directed  to  provide  means  for  transportation. 
By  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

J.  MEREDITH  REID,  JR., 

Adjutant-  General. 

In  pursuance  of  such  special  orders,  the  74th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  Col.  Wat 
son  A.  Fox,  commanding,  is  hereby  detatched  and  detailed  for  special  service,  and 
ordered  to  proceed  to  Elmira  on  Wednesday,  the  1st  day  of  May  next,  and  report  as 
directed.  Col.  Fox  will  issue  the  necessary  orders  for  the  assembling  of  his  regiment 
and  the  full  execution  of  this  order. 

By  order  of  Major-General  Randall. 

HENRY  L.  LANSING, 

Division  Inspector. 

The  regiment  was  now  nearly  ready  for  the  field.  Nearly  all 
of  the  old  members  were  anxious  to  go  for  the  three  months,  and 
there  were  many  who  could  not  absent  themselves,  from  various 
reasons,  for  a  longer  term,  and  the  balance  of  the  required  number 
had  been  made  up  from  the  best  material  by  enlistments.  The 
uniforms  had  been  ordered,  upon  the  appropriation  made  for  that 
purpose  by  the  Common  Council,  and  were  being  manufactured  in 
New  York.  It  was  understood  that  we  were  to  receive  them  on 
our  arrival  at  Elmira. 

The  citizens  of  Buffalo  nobly  seconded  the  efforts  being  made 
to  comfortably  equip  the  men.  In  fact,  they  took  the  lead, —  and 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  23 

when  did  the  ladies  of  our  city  ever  miss  such  an  opportunity  of 
demonstrating  their  devotion  to  the  cause  ? 

Meetings  were  called  at  various  places,  and  the  work  taken  up 
with  a  will,  and  soon,  from  their  fair  hands,  came  such  donations  of 
needful  articles, —  from  the  complete  outfit  of  underclothing,  down 
to  the  little  keepsake  "housewife,"  —  as  plainly  showed  their 
"  Dorcas-like"  determination  to  "  do  what  they  could."  And  then 
their  smiles  and  kind  words  —  God  bless  them  —  went  straight  to  a 
fellow's  heart,  and  did  more  good  than  scores  of  patriotic  speeches 
from  men,  who,  too  often,  like  the  trumpeter  of  /Esopian  fame,  were 
fond  of  setting  others  on,  but  did  not  care  about  going  themselves. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Heacock  —  a  noble  exception  to  the  last  men 
tioned  class —  volunteered  and  was  commissioned  as  chaplain  of  the 
74th.  The  Express,  in  announcing  his  appointment,  says  :  "  In 
him  all  the  fire  of  zeal  is  tempered  with  the  gentle,  loving  spirit  of 
the  Christian,  and  for  once  we  have  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place." 

On  Monday,  April  2Oth,  Col.  Fox,  in  pursuance  of  orders  already 
published,  issued  the  necessary  orders  for  the  assembling  of  the 
regiment  on  the  first  day  of  May,  to  proceed  to  Elmira.  On  the 
same  day,  Co.  "  A  "  was  mustered  into  the  service,  under  the  follow 
ing  officers  : 

ADRIAN  R.  ROOT — Captain. 

C.  W.  STERNBERG — ist  Lieutenant. 

PETER  C.  DOYLE — 2d  Lieutenant. 

But  in  the  midst  of  the  general  rejoicing  and  jubilant  prepara 
tions  for  departure,  came  like  a  thunder-clap  the  disheartening  news 
that  our  orders  were  countermanded:  Gov.  Morgan  having  received 
orders  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  send  no  more  troops  at 
present.  The  following  is  the  order  of  countermand,  received  on 
the  morning  before  our  expected  departure : 

HEADQUARTERS  EIGHTH  DIVISION,  N.  Y.  S.  M. 

April  3oth,   1861. 
Special  Order  No.  4. 

I.  The  Major-General  has  received  and  promulgates  the  following  special 
orders  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  : 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS,  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OEFICE, 

ALBANY,  April  28th,  1861. 
Special  Order  No.  105. 

Information  having  been  received  from  the  President  of  the  United  States  that 
no  further  requisition  for  troops  from  this  State  will  be  made  at  present,  Special 


24  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Orders  No.  85,  directing  the  74th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  to  proceed  to  Elmira,  are 
hereby  countermanded. 

Major-General  Nelson  Randall  is  charged  with  the  duty  of  promulgating  this 
order. 

By  order  of  the  Commander-in- Chief. 

J.  MEREDITH  REID,  JR., 

Adjutant-  General. 

II.  In  pursuance  of  these  orders  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  Special  Order 
No.  i,  directing  the  74th  Regiment  to  proceed  to  Elmira  on  Wednesday,  May  ist, 
1861,  is  hereby  countermanded,  and  Col.  Watson  A.  Fox  is  hereby  charged  with  the 
duty  of  promulgating  this  order. 

By  order  of  Major-General  Randall. 

HENRY  L.  LANSING, 

Division  Inspector. 

HEADQUARTERS  74TH  REGIMENT,  N.  Y.  S.  M. 

BUFFALO,  April  joth,  1861. 
Order  No.  2. 

In  pursuance  of  Special  Order  No.  4,  from  Division  Headquarters,  Order  No. 
I,  directing  the  departure  of  the  Regiment  for  Elmira  on  the  1st  of  May,  is  hereby 
countermanded,  in  consequence  of  the  Secretary  of  War  directing  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  to  send  forward  no  more  troops  from  this  State  at  present. 

The  Colonel  promulgates  this  order  with  deep  mortification.  He  is  aware  of 
the  many  sacrifices  which  the  patriotic  men  who  compose  his  command  have  made 
for  the  purpose  of  entering  the  service  of  their  country  to  put  down  the  formidable 
rebellion  against  the  Government,  but  he  expresses  the  hope  that  the  day  is  not  far 
distant  when  their  services  may  be  required,  and  exhorts  them  to  bear  with  patience 
the  disappointment,  and  show  themselves  to  be  true  soldiers,  by  still  further  exertions 
to  render  the  74th  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  ready  to  take  the  field  when  the  order 
to  march  is  received,  and  which  he  daily  expects  will  be  issued. 

The  officers  and  men  will  assemble  at  the  State  Arsenal  on  Wednesday,  the  ist 
day  of  May,  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  precisely.  Companies  A,  B,  C  and  D  will  appear 
on  parade  with  muskets. 

By  order  of 

W.  A.  FOX,   Colonel. 
G.  W.  JOHNSON,  Adjutant. 

In  countermanding  their  orders,  the  Governor  directed  the 
Regiment  to  complete  its  uniform  and  equipments,  and  hold  itself 
in  readiness  for  further  orders,  with  the  assurance  that  on  the  first 
further  call  the  74th  should  be  put  into  active  service.  But  that 
assurance  was  but  a  trifling  mitigation  of  the  disappointment, 
especially  as  it  was  becoming  evident  to  all  that  the  policy  of  the 
Government  was  to  strengthen  and  render  more  effective  its  regular 
army,  and  increase  it  by  volunteers  enlisted  for  a  prolonged  term 
of  service. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  25 

The  last  day  of  April  was  a  sad  one  for  the  balked  and  befooled 
74th.  Loud  and  deep  were  the  maledictions  vented  upon  whatever 
could  be  imagined  responsible  for  the  delay,  and  upon  "  red  tape  " 
in  particular.  Frightfully  woe-begone  and  elongated  were  the  faces 
of  the  groups  to  be  seen  holding  councils  of  war  at  the  street  cor 
ners  ;  and  if  by  chance  one  caught  a  word  of  the  conference,  it  was 
likely  to  be  anything  but  favorable  to  an  opinion  of  the  speaker's 
piety.  Some,  their  feelings  too  deep  for  utterance,  retired  to  their 
homes,  to  avoid  the  queries  or  banter  of  troublesome  friends,  and 
confide  to  sympathizing  mothers  and  sisters  the  burden  of  their 
woes.  One,  a  private  in  Co.  D,  as  brave  a  boy  as  ever  drew  steel,* 
went  home,  sat  down,  and  burst  into  tears,  and  his  only  and  sufficient 
reply  to  the  tender  inquiries  of  his  sisters  as  to  the  cause  of  his 
emotion,  was,  "  We  airit  going"  Almost  while  I  write  come  tidings 
of  his  bravery  on  a  late  and  desperately  fought  field,  where  he  led 
his  regiment  to  the  charge  in  the  face  of  fearful  odds.  But  "  Old 
Comfort"  (his  familiar  cognomen  among  "the  boys")  will  never 
forget  the  difficulties  he  experienced  in  getting  into  actual  service. 

Still,  earnest  and  determined,  and  not  to  be  thwarted,  a  large 
proportion  of  officers  and  men,  despairing  of  an  opportunity  to 
serve  in  the  way  they  had  chosen,  determined  to  leave  the  old 
organization,  and  offer  themselves  for  the  longer  term.  The  move 
ment  was  begun  at  once.  The  same  afternoon  Co.  "  F,"  under  Capt. 
George  DeWitt  Clinton,  was  formally  inspected,  and  the  oath 
administered  by  the  Captain. 

The  taking  of  the  oath  was  an  occasion  of  much  solemnity. 
After  it  had  been  administered,  the  Captain  stated  the  circumstances 
under  which  the  74th  had  been  recruited,  ordered  and  counter 
manded,  and  saying  that  with  himself  it  was  a  question  of  duty,  he 
had  determined  to  telegraph  to  Governor  Morgan  that  the  company 
would  enlist  for  the  term  of  their  natural  lives,  or  for  the  war.  He 
asked  those  willing  to  join  him  in  that  determination  to  raise  their 
hands  Of  the  eighty-five  men  present,  all  but  three  responded 
affirmatively  in  an  instant.  The  three  remaining  hesitated,  but 
decided  finally  for  the  unconditional  enlistment. 

Capt.  Clinton  immediately  made  out  a  new  muster  roll,  and  his 
company  signed  it,  to  a  man,  and  Lieut.  T.  B.  Wright  immediately 
left  with  it  for  Albany,  with  a  request  to  be  accepted  as  two  year's 


*  Geo.  M.  Love,  now  Colonel  of  the 


26  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

volunteers.     Gov.  Morgan  immediately  acceded,  issued  an  order  for 
inspection,  and  encouraged  the  other  companies  to  do  likewise. 

On  the  evening  of  May  ist,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Gen. 
Randall,  Col.  Pox,  Major  Fithian,  Mr.  Spaulding,  Judge  Hall  and 
Mr.  Prosser,  left  for  Albany,  to  complete  arrangements  for  the  arm 
ing  and  uniforming  of  the  74th,  in  compliance  with  the  following 
dispatch,  received  during  the  afternoon  : 

ALBANY,  April  2oth,  1861. 

MAJOR  F.  J.  FITHIAN  —  Sir:  The  74th  will  be  the  first  regiment  of  the  present 
uniformed  force  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  Government;  but 
none  must  go  until  they  have  been  organized,  armed,  equipped  and  provided  with 
camp  equipage. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

J.  MEREDITH  REID,  JR., 

Adjutant-  General. 

The  mission  of  these  gentlemen  was  undertaken  with  the 
expectation  of  procuring  arms  and  equipments,  and  preparing  the 
command  in  every  requisite  for  final  orders,  which  the  above  led 
them  to  expect  soon. 

At  noon  of  the  next  day  a  dispatch  was  received,  reporting 
"no  progress,"  and  later,  one  from  Col.  Fox,  directing  the  Regiment 
to  assemble  at  the  Arsenal  at  2  p.  M.  on  the  3d,  (Friday.) 

At  the  appointed  hour  the  men  assembled  in  the  great  drill 
room,  but  Col.  Fox  could  only  announce  the'failure  of  the  commit 
tee  to  accomplish  anything,  although  the  Governor  had  recom 
mended  that  the  organization  be  maintained  in  readiness  for  a  future: 
call.  This  evidently  was  the  choice  of  a  majority  of  the  officers,, 
and  a  proposed  re-organization  upon  the  new  system  did  not  meet 
with  full  approbation  ;  although  one  entire  company  — joined  in  the 
demonstration  by  large  majorities  of  the  others  —  agreed  to  the 
proposal  with  loud  acclamations.  The  general  choice  seemed  in 
favor  of  immediate  action,  and  all  were  impatient  of  further  delay. 
Rightly  judging  that  the  movement  only  required  a  start  in  the 
proper  direction  by  recognized  authority,  to  induce  the  wavering  to 
follow,  Major  Fithian  came  out  in  a  handbill,  calling  upon  the  men 
to  meet  at  Dudley  Hall  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  and  volunteer. 

Accordingly,  on  Saturday  morning,  Capts.'Alberger,  Gaylord  and 
Sternberg,  and  Lieut.  Doyle  opened  their  rolls  at  the  Hall.  Capt. 
Clinton  established  his  quarters  there  on  the  same  day,  his  men 
sleeping  there  and  taking  their  meals  at  the  Western  Hotel.  Mr., 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  27 

Dudley  furnished  sleeping  room,  Mr.  Charles  G.  Irish  provided 
mattresses,  and  the  City,  through  the  fund  for  that  purpose,  provided 
blankets  and  rations. 

During  the  day  Capts.  Rogers  and  Gaylord  filled  up  their 
companies.  Capt.  Alberger's  roll  was  completed  on  Sunday,  and 
that  evening  Capt.  Gaylord  and  Lieuts.  Wheeler  and  Canfield  went 
to  Albany  with  the  rolls.  Capt.  Lee's  company,  "  G,"  recruited  at 
the  Arcade  station,  being  also  full,  sent  their  roll  at  the  same  time, 
and  on  Monday,  May  6th,  were  inspected  by  Gen.  Scroggs,  and 
mustered  into  the  service.  Capt.  Sternberg  having  dissolved  his 
company  in  order  to  fill  up  the  others,  immediately  opened  a 
new  roll. 

On  Tuesday,  May  yth,  Company  "  C,"  Capt.  Rogers;  "E," 
Capt.  Strong,  and  "  F,"  Capt.  Clinton,  were  mustered  in.  Capt. 
Strong's  had  been  organized  as  a  cavalry  company,  but  could  not 
be  accepted  as  such. 

On  Wednesday,  May  8th,  Company  "  B,"  Capt.  Gaylord,  and 
"D,"  Capt.  Alberger,  were  inspected  and  mustered  into  service,  and 
the  same  evening  Mayor  Alberger  went  to  Albany,  with  the  purpose 
of  obtaining,  if  possible,  immediate  marching  orders  for  the  six 
companies  to  proceed  to  the  rendezvous  at  Elmira  :  and  also  to  urge 
upon  the  State  military  authorities  the  purchase  from  the  Joint 
Committee  of  the  uniforms  and  other  equipments  originally  intended 
for  the  74th,  and  their  assignment  to  the  use  of  the  Buffalo  Volun 
teer  Regiment. 

On  Thursday,  dispatches  received  from  the  Mayor,  at  Albany, 
and  from  Major  Fithian,  at  Elmira,  resulted  in  orders  from  Gen. 
Scroggs  to  march  on  Saturday.  Major  Fithian  telegraphed,  by 
request  of  Gen.  Van  Valkenburgh,  that  the  Buffalo  companies  must 
not  arrive  until  Sunday  morning  at  Elmira,  it  being  impossible  to 
provide  quarters  for  them  before  that  time. 

The  following  is  from  the  Express  : 

"  The  demonstration  Saturday  afternoon,  upon  the  departure 
for  Elmira  of  the  six  final  companies  of  the  Buffalo  Regiment  of 
Volunteers,  was  in  some  respects  the  grandest  and  most  thrilling 
ever  witnessed  in  our  city.  The  whole  population  seemed  to  unite 
in  such  a  testimonial  of  pride  and  grateful  affection,  as  could  not 
fail  to  gladden  the  otherwise  heavy  hearts  of  the  noble  and  gallant 
fellows  who  ba-de  adieu  to  their  homes  and  friends,  and  went  forth 
to  become  the  soldiers  of  their  country,  the  defenders  of  the  Stars 


28  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

and  Stripes,  the  upholders  and  guarantors  of  the  glorious  Union 
and  its  Government.  All  who  belong  to  Buffalo  seemed  to  have 
come  out  to  swell  the  triumph  of  the  occasion,  and  the  mighty  con 
course  of  people  which  surrounded  and  cheered  the  volunteers  in 
their  march  through  the  city,  was  one  which  it  would  be  utterly 
futile  to  attempt  to  estimate  in  numbers. 

"  Never  before  have  we  seen  the  streets  so  gay  and  pageant- 
like.  Flags  by  the  thousand  were  flung  from  roofs  and  windows, 
while  the  national  tri-colors  hung  and  floated  in  great  festoons  of 
bunting  from  cornice  to  cornice  along  the  store  fronts  of  our  noble 
main  avenue.  But  these  decorations  were  nothing  compared  with 
the  display  of  fair  faces,  which  clustered  in  every  looking-place 
along  the  street,  and  the  gala  look  of  the  city  was  due  in  greater 
part  to  fluttering  ribbons  than  to  waving  banners.  The  scene  was 
one  "to  be  spoken  of  proudly  and  exultingly,  but  not  to  be  described. 

"At  3  o'clock  the  procession  of  the  departing  volunteers 'and 
their  escort  was  formed  on  Niagara  Square,  in  the  presence  of  an 
immense  assemblage  of  spectators.  The  volunteer  companies  were 
formed  as  follows : 

"  Captain  Strong's  Company. 
"  Captain  Clinton's  Company. 
"  Captain  Roger's  Company. 
"  Captain  Lee's  Company. 
"  Captain  Alberger's  Company. 
"  Captain  Gaylord's  Company. 

"  The  ranks  of  the  six  companies  were  full,  and  their  force 
amounted  to  nearly  five  hundred  men.  The  escort  was  composed 
of  the  Union  Continentals,  under  Ex-President  Fillmore;  the  Citi 
zens'  Reserve  Corps,  E.  Drew,  Commandant;  the  Tigers,  J.  F. 
Ernst,  Commandant ;  the  74th  Regiment,  Col.  W.  A.  Fox ;  Eagle 
Hose  Company,  Neptune  Hose  Company,  and  Excelsior  Hose 
Company. 

"  The  volunteers  were  ununiformed,  with  the  exception  of  Capt. 
Clinton's  Company,  which  wore  red  shirts  and  glazed  caps,  looking 
very  finely.  The  general  appearance  of  the  companies  was  admir 
able.  The  material  of  which  several  of  them  are  composed,  is  the 
very  best  American  society  can  furnish  for  war  purposes,  including, 
as  they  do,  the  high  spirited,  educated,  and  intelligent  young  men 
of  every  class, —  from  the  professions,  from  the  merchant's  desk,  the 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  29 

mechanic's  shop,  and  the  household  of  the  farm.  Mingled  with 
these  better  orders,  are  some  of  ruder  and  rougher  character ;  but 
even  of  such  will  the  discipline  of  the  camp  and  the  stern  tutoring 
of  war  make  gallant  soldiers  and  noble  men. 

RAISING    THE    FLAG    AT    THE    FIRST    CHURCH. 

"A  little  before  4  o'clock  the  line  was  set  in  motion,  and  the 
procession  moved  through  Court  and  Main  streets  to  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  where  it  halted  to  witness  the  ceremony  of 
raising  a  flag  upon  a  staff  erected  above  the  cupola  of  the  church. 
A  platform  had  been  raised  near  the  street,  in  front  of  the  church, 
which  was  occupied  by  the  Glee  Club,  several  clergymen,  and  the 
Hon.  E.  G.  Spaulding.  The  church  square,  and  all  the  broad  streets 
surrounding,  were  filled  with  a  multidude  of  people  beyond  compu 
tation,  while  the  house-tops  and  windows  swarmed  with  lookers-on. 
The  spectacle  which  the  living  mass  presented  at  this  time  was 
inconceivably  grand. 

"  With  little  delay,  the  flag  was  raised  from  the  ground  to  its 
lofty  peak  by  Gen.  Scroggs,  and  as  it  reached  the  summit  and  was 
unfurled,  at  least  twenty  thousand  people  joined  in  three  wild 
cheers,  deafening  and  almost  terrific  in  their  mighty  volume.  At 
the  same  instant  another  flag  was  hoisted  from  the  roof  of  John  C. 
Jewett's  store,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Main  street,  and  another 
round  of  cheers  was  given  to  this.  The  chimes  of  St.  Paul's  rang 
out  the  national  air,  and  the  clamor  of  bells  and  voices  was  for 
several  moments  bewildering. 

"When  the  clamor  had  somewhat  subsided,  Mr.  Vining  and  the 
Glee  Club  sang  the  'Star  Spangled  Banner,'  after  which  Hon.  E.  G. 
Spaulding  introduced  the  Rev.  Dr.  Clarke,  who  addressed  the 
assemblage  and  the  Volunteers  as  follows  : 

"  '  The  flag  of  our  fathers  !  The  flag  of  freedom  !  The  flag  of 
the  Union  !  Long  may  it  wave  !  Over  all  our  churches,  and  masts, 
and  dock-yards,  and  navies  :  over  our  armies,  as  they  go  forth  to 
righteous  battle,  or  return  shouting  their  peans  of  victory :  over  all 
the  States  of  the  loyal  and  happy  North  :  over  all  the  sections  of  the 
misguided  and  seditious  South,  recovered  quickly  to  reason,  or  if  that 
be  impossible,  subjected  speedily  to  the  stern  rule  of  law :  over  all 
the  States  and  Territories  of  this  great  country  may  the  flag  of  the 
Union  continue  to  wave,  and  be  hailed  in  coming  centuries  as  we 
hail  it  to-day,  the  badge  of  brotherhood,  the  emblem  of  peace ! 


3O  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

« 

"  'I  have  been  requested,  fellow  citizens,  to  say  a  few  words  at 
this  time,  in  connection  with  the  ceremony  we  have  just  seen  per 
formed, —  the  ceremony  of  raising  the  flag-  of  our  country  on  the 
spire  of  this  ancient  and  honored  church. 

"  '  We  raise  this  signal,  that  we  may  give  expression  to  a  senti 
ment  that  palpitates  in  every  patriotic  heart.  This  flag,  with  its 
stripes  and  stars,  is  the  symbol  of  certain  great  ideas  which  the 
circumstances  of  our  times  commands  us  to  re-affirm  with  every 
possible  note  of  emphasis  and  approbation.  What  these  ideas  are 
I  shall  indicate  in  a  few  words. 

"  '  Previous  to  the  declaration  of  American  independence,  there 
had  been  two,  and  practically  no  more  than  two,  radical  theories  of 
government.  In  one  it  was  held  that  the  State  might  administer 
law  in  a  way  to  suppress  and  annihilate  liberty.  In  the  other  it  was 
maintained  that  the  rulers  should  so  encourage  liberty  as  to  displace 
and  extinguish  law.  But  it  is  clear  that  a  government  which 
administers  law  in  a  way  to  stifle  liberty  must  soon  end  in  despotism. 
On  the  other  hand,  a  nation  that  so  favors  liberty  as  to  set  aside  the 
force  of  law,  takes  the  road  to  certain  anarchy  and  speedy  dissolu 
tion.  For  six  thousand  years  the  nations  have  been  vibrating  back 
and  forth  between  these  two  extremes,  swinging  now  into  despotism 
through  the  excess  of-  law,  and  now  into  anarchy  through  an  abuse 
and  an  over  allowance  of  freedom. 

"  '  Our  fathers  had  the  wisdom  to  avoid  the  mistake  of  the 
ancients,  and  to  frame  the  two  conflicting  ideas  into  a  harmonious 
Union  —  constructing  thus  a  new  form  of  government,  the  fruit  of 
all  the  centuries  past,  the  model  of  all  the  ages  to  come.  They  set 
up  a  Constitution  in  which,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  it  was  made  the  express  object  of  Law  to  regulate  Liberty, 
and  the  one  object  of  Liberty  to  conform  to  Law.  Law  constraining 
and' conserving  Liberty  —  Liberty  inhabitating  and  obeying  Law  — 
the  State  the  sanctuary  of  freedom,  because  it  is  also  the  citadel  of 
Law.  This  is  the  fundamental  idea  of  our  American  Government. 
And  it  is  this  idea  inscribed  upon  our  national  flag,  which  makes  it 
an  ensign  of  hope  to  all  the  nations. 

"  '  Look  at  that  floating  signal  as  its  folds  embrace  and  kiss  the 
spire  of  the  sanctuary.  They  are  stars  that  stud  that  azure  space 
—  stars,  not  meteors,  nor  fire-works,  nor  comets  with  their  burning 
trail.  Stars  have  their  common  centre  round  which  they  all  revolve, 
to  which  they  together  cling,  from  which  no  single  sphere  breaks 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT,  3! 

loose,  except  to  plunge  into  the  eternal  darkness,  and  be  lost  in  the 
everlasting  abyss.  There  is  not  a  seceder  among  all  the  myriad 
stars  that  stud  the  heavens.  According  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
American  Government,  the  States  are  stars,  keeping  their  orbits  and 
clinging  to  their  centre.  Had  our  forefathers  thought  otherwise, 
they  would  have  decked  their  flag  with  different  emblems. 

;  '  For  more  than  half  a  century,  American  Law  has  been  the 
safeguard  of  American  Liberty,  so  that  wherever  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  have  gone,  whether  to  China  or  Japan,  or  the  islands  of  the 
sea,  or  the  continents  of  the  frozen  zone,  the  flag  of  our  country  has 
been  hailed  as  a  symbol  of  gladness  and  an  omen  of  good. 

"  '  But  the  seceding  States,  infected  with  the  barbarism  which 
they  enslave  and  foster,  have  madly  disowned  the  Constitution  and 
divorced  American  Liberty  from  American  Law.  And  that  is  the 
reason  that  we  lift  up,  upon  the  spires  of  our  churches  and  the  roofs 
of  our  dwellings,  and  along  our  thoroughfares,  and  on  the  masts  of 
our  ships,  this  symbol  of  law  embracing  liberty,  and  liberty  obeying 
law — an  honored  American  flag.  We  desire  to  proclaim  upon  all 
the  winds,  and  to  publish  to  all  beholders,  our  solemn  conviction  that 
Law  must  regulate  Liberty,  and  when  Liberty  refuses  or  revolts,  Law 
must  enforce  her  demands  arid  reclaim  the  offender. 

' '  Soldiers,  citizens,  brethren  mustered  in  these  ranks,  and 
about  to  go  forth  to  do  battle  for  your  country,  this  is  the  cause 
which  we  commit  to  you  to  defend.  The  American  Government 
has  been  disowned,  and  liberty  snatched  from  the  embrace  of  law. 
You  go  forth  in  the  name  of  law  to  uphold  order  and  suppress 
rebellion.  That  is  a  noble  mission.  Be  worthy  of  the  cause  for 
which  you  so  willingly  do  service.  Be  yourselves  law-abiding,  law- 
loving  men.  Yield  to  no  temptation,  practice  no  iniquity,  remember 
that  the  cause  in  which  you  have  enlisted  is  too  sacred  to  permit 
any  thing  that  dishonors  a  man.  Go  to  your  high  duties,  bearing 
the  spirit  of  heroes,  fall  like  Christians.  And  may  God  Almighty, 
Father,  Son,  and  Sanctifier,  bless  you,  and  bring  you  to  His  eternal 
abode,  in  the  Great  Day.' 

"  A.  M.  Clapp,  Esq.,  was  then  introduced  to  the  multitude,  and 
addressed  it  briefly.  He  said  it  was  fitting  that  the  departure  of  the 
Volunteers  should  be  signalized  by  the  interesting  ceremony  of 
raising  the  flag  of  our  country  over  the  first  Christian  church  estab 
lished  in  our  city.  It  was  appropriate  and  interesting  to  see  the 


32  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

spires  of  the  temples  where  God  is  worshiped,  adorned  by  the 
Stars  and  Stripes — it  told  of  a  living  patriotism  which  inspired  to 
action,  and  would  secure  great  results  to  the  cause  of  the  country 
in  the  hour  of  its  peril.  The  prayers  of  those  who  worshiped 
beneath  the  ensign  of  the  Union  would  follow  those  who  went  forth 
in  its  defence,  and  that  God  who  is  just,  and  who  hears  and  answers 
prayer,  would  follow  those  brave  volunteers  with  His  blessing,  prov 
ing  to  them,  as  to  His  children  of  old  when  in  peril,  a  pillar  of  cloud 
by  day,  and  of  fire  by  night,  to  guide  them  through  their  trials  in 
safety.  He  then  referred  to  the  sudden  awakening  of  the  patriotic 
devotion  of  the  people  of  the  Free,  and  of  a  portion  of  the  Slave 
States,  which  marks  this  crisis  in  our  national  affairs,  and  said  it 
could  be  ascribed  alone  to  a  deep  sense  of  the  wrong  and  insult 
which  had  been  heaped  by  treason  upon  the  cause  of  the  Govern 
ment,  and  the  honor  of  its  flag.  That  spirit  of  our  fathers,  which 
inspired  them  to  deeds  of  valor  at  Bunker  Hill  and  Lexington,  was 
now  arousing  the  people  of  the  free  North  and  North-West,  to  an 
action  so  determined,  in  behalf  of  a  cause  so  just,  that  omnipotence 
alone  can  defeat  its  success,  and  prevent  an  ultimate  triumph. 

"  He  then  addressed  the  volunteers  briefly,  and  spoke  in  com 
mendation  of  their  patriotic  devotion  to  the  country  when  its  dignity 
and  honor  are  assailed.  He  implored  them  to  stand  by  their  flag, 
and,  if  fall  they  must,  let  them  do  so  with  their  faces  to  the  foe.  He 
said  he  had  no  doubt  of  their  valor  or  of  their  loyalty,  and  with 
such  defenders,  the  cause  of  Republic  freedom  must  prevail.  He 
said,  though  they  would  soon  be  far  removed  from  home  and  the 
associations  of  families  and  friends,  they  must  recollect  —  and  let 
that  recollection  buoy  them  up  in  the  hour  of  their  severest  trials  — 
that  they  are  embalmed  in  the  affections  of  those  who  are  left 
behind.  The  hearts  of  this  multitude  would  follow  them,  and  the 
prayers  of  wives,  mothers,  sisters,  and  daughters,  would  follow  them 
and  the  cause  they  now  go  forth  to  defend.  The  parting  adieu  was 
not  without  its  pangs,  but  the  glory  that  awaits  our  noble  army  will 
promptly  apply  its  solace,  and  bring  joy  where  sadness  now  exists. 
This  display  in  honor  of  the  departure  of  these  noble  men,  was  as 
merited  as  it  was  magnificent,  and  must  bring  to  the  sad  heart  of 
the  patriot  who  turns  his  back  upon  home  and  kindred  ties,  a  ray 
of  joy  that  will  cheer  and  nerve  him  in  the  hour  of  his  departure. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  33 

THE    MARCH. 

"  At  the  conclusion  of  the  speaking,  three  tremendous  cheers 
were  given  for  the  departing  volunteers,  and  the  procession  moved 
onward.  The  march  down  Main  street  was  an  ovation,  and  a  sight 
to  be  remembered.  The  cortege  itself  was  almost  swallowed  up  in 
the  tide  that  moved  with  it,  filling  the  street  with  a  compact  mass  of 
people,  extending  nearly  as  far  as  could  be  seen.  Cheers  and  shouts 
mingled  in  a  continuous  roar  with  the  music  of  the  bands  accom 
panying  the  escort.  Handkerchiefs  were  waved  from  the  windows 
by  thousands  of  fair  hands,  and  bouquets  were  numerously  thrown 
to  the  volunteers.  Altogether,  the  scene  was  perhaps  the  most 
impressive  and  memorable  that  Buffalo  has  ever  witnessed. 

"  Nothing  in  the  spectacle  was  so  moving — nothing  so  vividly 
realized  to  our  minds  the  nature  of  the  occasion,  as  the  sight  of 
women  marching  by  the  side  of  the  ranks,  clinging  to  the  arms  of 
their  husbands  and  brothers  and  sons.  It  told  the  whole  story. 
Any  stranger  might  have  known  from  it  the  meaning  of  the  event, 
and  understood  that  soldiers  were  going  forth  to  war. 

THE  PARTING  AT  THE  DEPOT. 

"  We  can  not  bear  to  undertake  any  description  of  the  scene 
that  we  witnessed  at  the  depot,  during  the  few  moments  that  elapsed 
between  the  arrival  of  the  volunteers  there  and  the  starting  of  the 
cars  that  bore  them  away.  Let  us  be  spared  the  recital  of  what 
made  every  heart  ache  among  those  present  at  the  sorrowful  part 
ing.  There  were  more  tears  than  women  shed, —  more  than  had 
fallen  from  the  hundreds  of  reddened  eyes  that  strained  after  the 
departing  train.  Many  a  brave  fellow,  whose  heart  will  grow  strong 
in  the  face  of  danger,  felt  choaked  by  the  uprising  emotion,  and 
looked  the  'good-by's'  he  could  not  speak,  through  tear-dimmed 
eyes. 

"  And  so  they  went  away,  God  bless  them  !  and  may  every  one 
come  back  to  us  laureled  with  valiant  deeds  and  crowned  with 
victory  !" 

"Go,  watch  the  foremost  rank,  in  danger's  dark  career, 

Be  sure  the  hand  most  daring  there,  has  wiped  away  a  tear." 

"All  aboard!  Stand  clear!"  A  creak,  a  sudden  jerk,  and 
then,  amid  "  good-by's  "  and  "  Gocl-bless-you's,"  drowned  in  the  roar 


34  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

of  the  music  and  the  artillery  and  the  cheering-  crowd,  amid  linger- 
ingly  clasped  hands  and  last  looks  at  dim  faces  we  might  never  see 
again,  the  train  began  to  withdraw  from  the  crowd.  Slowly,  as  if 
loth  to  bear  away  its  burden  of  farewells  ;  as  if  conscious  that  every 
heart  among  the  departing  felt  the  first  agonizing  strain  of  those 
ties,  never  separated  by  distance  or  dangers,  but  only  the  stronger 
for  both. 

We  leave  the  multitude  behind.  The  cheers  grow  fainter. 
Every  one  endeavors  to  hide  the  emotion  which  no  one  sees,  and 
all  are  very  busy  in  replying  to  the  cheers  of  the  little  knots  gathered 
in  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  At  last  there  are  no  more  of  these ; 
we  are  in  the  open  country. 

Back  there,  in  the  glow  of  the  setting  sun,  the  focus  of  many  a 
lingering  gaze,  and  rapidly  becoming  indistinct  in  the  hazy  distance, 
until  we  see  only  its  spires  pointing  heavenward,  with  the  sheen  of 
the  sunset  like  a  glory  upon  them,  often  to  be  dreamed  of  as  we  see 
her  in  this  last  moment,  lies  the  Queen  City. 

Farewell,  dear,  happy  homes  !  May  we  return  as  proudly  as 
we  leave  you  sorrowful !  But,  for  many  who  now  gaze  as  for  the 
last  time,  those  spires  are  an  omen.  As  we  rush  on  into  the  twilight 
they  point  to  another  world. 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  35 


CHAPTER      II 


Organization  of  the  Regiment,  and  election  of  Field  and  Staff  Officers — The  Companies  move  from 
their  temporary  quarters  to  Barracks  No  4. —  Description  of  the  Camp,  and  some  account  of 
our  fare  and  usage  generally. — How  Volunteers  should  be  treated. — Routine  of  a  day  in 
Camp. — A  midnight  alarm. — Our  first  hard  march. — Good-bye  to  Elmira,  and  hurrah  for 
Dixie. 


ON   the    1 3th   day   of  May,    1861,   the   officers   of  the    Buffalo 
volunteer    companies    at    Elmira   proceeded  to  organize  a 
regiment,  and  to  elect  their  field  officers.     The  result  was  as  follows  : 

WILLIAM  F.  ROGERS— Colonel. 
ADRIAN  R.  ROOT — Lieut.  Colonel. 
WILLIAM  II.  DREW— Major. 

Col.  Rogers  made  a  few  very  appropriate  remarks,  on  the 
announcement  that  he  had  been  elected  Colonel  by  a  unanimous  vote. 
He  said  he  would  strive  to  do  his  \vhole  duty;  and  should  the 
Regiment  be  called  to  active  service  upon  the  field  of  battle,  he 
would  endeavor  to  prove  himself  worthy  of  the  confidence  reposed 
in  him  by  his  brother  officers. 

Capt.  William  C.  Alberger,  of  "  D  "  Co.,  was  elected  Major, 
but  would  not  accept  the  position  until  he  had  consulted  his  men. 
Going  to  their  quarters,  he  called  the  company  to  attention,  and 
said  :  "  Boys,  they  want  me  to  be  the  Major  of  this  Regiment.  I 
leave  you  to  decide  for  me.  Shall  I  take  the  position,  or  remain 
with  you?" 

At  the  close  of  the  Captain's  announcement,  the  anxious  faces 
that  were  pulled  at  its  commencement,  were  shortened  considerably, 
and  of  course  the  boys  were  selfish  enough  to  shout  with  one 
accord,  "  Stay  !  stay  !"  And  when  the  Captain  bowed  and  smiled  his 
assent,  such  a  cheer  as  burst  from  them,  might  fitly  have  acknowl 
edged  the  receipt  of  a  major's  commission  for  every  man  of  them  ; 
and  they  could  not  have  seemed  much  happier  had  that  indeed  been 
the  case. 


36  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

The  Colonel  made  the  following  selections  as  his  staff  officers, 
which  met  the  hearty  approval  of  the  entire  regiment,  and  tested 
as  they  have  been  in  camp  and  field,  we  have  found  that  approval 
to  have  been  well  placed : 

CHESTER  W.  STERNBERG — Adjutant. 
HENRY  P.  CLINTON — Quartermaster. 
CHARLES  H.  WILCOX — Surgeon. 
JOSEPH  A.  PETERS — Surgeon's  Mate. 
GEORGE  M.  LOVE — Sergeant  Major. 
PETER  C.  DOYLE— Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

At  this  time  the  companies  were  quartered  temporarily  in  town. 
They  were  rather  promiscuously  distributed  as  follows:  "C" 
Company  occupied  the  Episcopal  Church.  Pews  were  turned  into 
bunks,  and  even  the  pulpit  did  duty  as  a  dormitory,  being  occupied 
by  the  sergeants.  In  honor  of  their  old  captain,  who  had  been  taken 
from  them  to  fill  the  highest  position  in  the  regiment,  they  called 
their  quarters  "Camp  Rogers."  "B"  Company,  Capt.  Gaylord, 
had  a  loft  over  a  store  on  Water  street.  "  F,"  Capt.  Clinton,  had 
another  over  the  Mansion  House;  while  "  D,"  Capt.  Alberger,  gar 
risoned  still  another  over  Ely's  Hall,  and  the  Hall  itself  contained 
five  more  companies. 

On  the  evening  of  the  i/ith  of  May,  Gen.  Van  Valkenburgh 
having  completed  the  preparation  of  barracks,  we  marched  out  and 
took  possession  of  ours.  The  following  letter,  which  appeared  in 
the  Morning  Express  for  May  iyth,  dated  the  I5th,  and  signed 
"  H,"  will  give  a  good  idea  of  the  locality  in  which  we  passed  our 
initiatory  month. 

"  Last  night  six  companies  were  marched  out  to  the  new  bar 
racks  near  the  race  grounds ;  a  place  which,  for  its  natural  beauty 
and  adaptation  to  the  purposes  of  a  camp,  deserves  description. 
Take  it  as  I  saw  it  this  morning.  A  walk  of  a  mile  and  a  half  out 
the  pleasant  Water  street,  brought  me  to  the  camp.  A  broad  and 
level  meadow  stretched  along  the  road.  At  its  rear  was  a  range  of 
twenty  company  barracks.  Beyond  was  the  river,  fringed  with  elms 
and  willows,  and  sparkling  in  the  sunshine  of  the  lovely  morning, 
and  still  beyond  rose  precipitously  the  bold  hills,  clad  in  evergreens. 
As  if  in  contrast  with  its  warlike  purposes,  the  whole  out-look  of  the 
place  was  one  of  peace.  It  was  the  spot  of  all  others  to  lounge  upon 
a  grassy  bank  in  reverie,  lulled  by  the  flowing  river  and  fanned  by 
the  soft  air  of  the  mellow  morning.  It  was  a  place  for  pastoral 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  37 

associations,  lazy  meditation,  the  low  of  kine  and  the  bleat  of  flocks, 
or,  most  of  all,  for  a  lover's  walk  by  moonlight. 

"  Crossing-  the  ample  parade  ground  we  reached  the  barracks, 
where  Carjt  Thomas,  and  late  Lieutenant,  but  now  Captain,'  Bob/ 
Gardner,  made  us  welcome.  Each  company  has  a  separate  build 
ing,  sixteen  feet  by  ninety,  and  twelve  feet  high,  with  a  ventilator 
all  along  the  roof.  On  either  side  are  the  bunks,  fitted  with  a  straw 
bed  and  blankets.  The  floor  is  cleanly  swept,  the  beds  made  up,  a 
stove  at  the  front  furnishes  sufficient  warmth,  and  there  is  air,  room, 
comfort  and  cleanliness  enough  to  keep  the  men  in  health.  In  the 
rear  are  two  excellent  wells  just  completed,  and  by  Friday  the  mess- 
house  and  kitchen  will  be  finished.  All  about  this  camp  shows  that 
Gen.  Van  Valkenburg  intends  it  for  a  permanent  institution.  It  is 
no  mere  make-shift  for  the  present. 

"  In  rear  of  the  barracks,  the  dry  and  level  plateau  on  which 
they  stand,  falls  down  with  an  easy  slope  to  the  water.  At  the  time 
of  my  visit  it  was  the  idle  hour  after  breakfast.  Perhaps  a  hundred 
men  lay  sunning  on  the  grass,  or  engagad  in  pitching  quoits,  or 
jumping.  On  the  water's  edge  were  some  thirty  fishermen,  after 
chubs,  with  pin-hooks  and  twine.  The  capture  of  a  minnow  was  an 
achievement  received  with  rounds  of  applause.  On  the  water  was 
a  raft,  two  boys  navigating  it  with  great  energy  from  shore  to  shore. 
Across  the  water,  which  is  a  set-back  from  the  main  stream,  is  a 
peninsula,  reached  by  a  good  road,  on  which  is  a  race  track  a  mile 
in  length,  inclosing  a  green  and  beautiful  meadow,  level  as  a  house 
floor,  and  admirably  adapted  for  a  drill  ground.  Beyond  this  is  the 
main  river,  and  still  beyond,  the  glorious  hills. 

"Aside  from  its  almost  peerless  beauty  of  scenery,  the  camp 
where  our  Buffalo  boys  are  awaiting  orders  has  peculiar  merits.  It 
is  level,  a  dry  soil,  well  drained,  has  pure  and  abundant  water,  ample 
opportunities  for  river  bathing,  and  has  parade  ground  enough  for 
ten  thousand  men.  I  felt  grateful  to  Gen.  Van  Valkenburg  for  the 
good  taste  and  military  skill  he  has  displayed  in  all  its  arrangements. 
Let  Buffalonians  rest  assured  that  their  volunteers  are  well  cared 
for,  and  with  that  assurance  I  end  this  long  epistle  " 

Gen.  Van  Valkenburg  did  indeed  deserve  credit  for  the  care  he 
took  of  the  boys,  and  long  afterward, —  when  the  "tack"  were 
unusually  hard,  the  bacon  rusty,  or  in  the  course  of  our  duty  we  were 
obliged  to  forego  even  the  barest  of  comforts  common  to  the  poorest 
at  home, —  would  we  remember  the  good  wholesome  "grub"  and 


3»  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

the  dry,  sheltered  sleeping  places  we  so  little  appreciated  in  Ehnira. 
And  now  began  the  hard  work  of  a  soldier's  life.  Hitherto  we  had 
seen  only  the  pleasanter  experiences  and  tinsel  outer  show  of  such 
a  life.  Now  we  were  to  know  the  difference  between  a  street 
parade, —  before  crowds  of  admiring  friends  who  were  contented  to 
take  our  will  to  do  well  for  the  deed, —  and  the  long  hard  drills  in 
the  heat  and  dust,  necessary  to  our  efficiency  as  soldiers.  This  was 
not  the  work  of  a  day,  but  as  the  officers  took  it  up  with  a  will,  we 
soon  began  to  show  the  result  of  well  directed  discipline.  Many  of 
our  officers  and  men  were  members  of  old  companies  in  the  74th, 
and  of  course  the  degree  of  proficiency  they  had  acquired  during 
their  experience  in  those  "  crack"  organizations  was  not  without  its 
effect,  apparent  as  it  soon  became  in  the  superior  manner  in  which 
our  boys  went  through  their  exercises. 

But  not  in  those  alone  consisted  the  full  measure  of  our  proba 
tionary  trials. 

We  found  that  "  discipline  "  meant  not  only  attention  to  and 
obedience  of  orders  while  on  drill  or  duty,  but  that  its  requirements 
extended  to  every  moment  of  our  lives  as  soldiers ;  that  its  bounds 
and  limits  were  everywhere  placed  by  the  best  consideration  of  our 
interests  as  a  command,  and  that  they  must  not  be  overstepped. 

Here  was  a  difficulty  with  men  who,  in  the  whole  course  of 
their  lives,  perhaps,  had  never  before  been  subjected  to  such  super 
vision.  But  I  am  bound  to  say  that  upon  the  whole  they  submitted 
with  a  good  grace,  when  they  understood  the  bearing  of  these 
restrictions  on  the  well  being  —  moral  and  "sanitary"  —of  the 
regiment. 

Still  it  was  hard,  especially  for  the  wilder  spirits,  to  yield  at 
once,  and  that,  too,  while  in  the  midst  of  friends,  and  while  they 
might  have  so  little  time  to  enjoy  such  surroundings  as  were  ours 
in  that  happy  valley  of  the  Chemung.  Who  can  blame  them  then 
for  uncorking  rather  recklessly,  when  opportunity  favored  that  opera 
tion.  Hence  the  occasional  stampedes,  when  guard  lines  were  no 
longer  respected,  and  the  sentinel,  if  vigilant,  found  his  authority 
set  at  defiance  by  some  old  crony  whom — with  all  his  exaggerated 
and  recruitish  notions  of  his  duty — he  could  not  make  up  his  mind 
to  shoot,  although  he  might,  for  conscience  sake,  discharge  his  piece 
(carefully)  into  the  air. 

On  these  occasions  our  embryo  heroes  among  the  line  officers 
often  gave  chase,  generally  with  an  armed  squad  at  their  heels,  and 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  .39 

with  prodigious  valor  beat  the  vicinity  in  search  of  the  fugitives. 
Many  were  the  hair-breadth  escapes  narrated  by  the  latter  to  their 
admiring  comrades  upon  their  return  to  camp. 

Ten  of  the  twenty  barrack  buildings  at  No.  4  were  occupied  by 
the  24th  (Oswego)  Regiment,  and  the  mutual  friendly  feeling  enter 
tained  by  the  two  regiments  has  never  diminished.  It  was  the  fash 
ion  to  comment  jokingly  upon  our  fare  in  general,  and  compare 
notes  as  to  the  respective  treatment  of  the  two  regiments.  For 
instance,  a  Buffalo  boy  would  approach  the  guard  line  between  the 
two  camps  and  kindly  inquire  of  some  "Oswego"  as  to  "what  he 
had  for  dinner  that  day."  He  would  probably  receive  a  strictly 
confidential  reply — at  the  top  of  "  Oswego's  "  voice — to  the  effect 
that  the  dinner  wasn't  very  good,  for  divers  reasons,  which  he  would 
proceed  to  enumerate,  and  which  being  neither  very  delicate  nor 
very  funny,  wre  won't  repeat,  excepting  the  standing  joke  which 
referred  to  "  rats  in  the  soup,"  a  piece  of  diabolical  invention,  well 
calculated  to  spoil  one's  appetite,  or  at  least  his  relish  for  soup ;  and 
which  only  deserves  mention  here  as  furnishing  the  watchword  by 
which  the  two  regiments  always  hailed  each  other  when  they  met 
in  "  Dixie." 

Many  were  the  alternatives  resorted  to  for  the  relief  of  the 
tedium  of  life  in  garrison,  a  life  which  the  soldier  would  at  anytime 
gladly  exchange  for  the  excitement  of  a  campaign,  dreading  the 
toils  and  perils  of  service  in  the  field  much  less  than  the  hum-drum 
round  of  daily  duties,  spiced  with  no  variety  or  adventure,  which  is 
the  portion  of  the  soldier  in  barracks.  Our  days  were  passed  in 
much  the  same  routine,  and  when  the  first  charm  of  novelty  had 
worn  away,  and  we  began  to  wonder  when  we  were  to  be  led  to  the 
field,  then  it  was  that  the  first  murmurs  were  heard  among  the  more 
impatient  spirits  of  the  command.  They  had  enlisted,  they  said, 
"  to  fight,"  and  not  that  they  might  be  penned  in,  hundreds  of  miles 
away  from  the  sphere  of  actual  warfare,  and  subject  to  the  strictest 
discipline,  "  more  like  convicts  than  soldiers." 

But  all  this  was  pardonable.  Your  volunteer  soldier  is  apt  to 
be  something  of  a  grumbler.  It  is  his  only  liberty,  the  liberty  of 
his  tongue,  and  even  that  restricted.  He  grumbles  at  a  host  of  real 
or  fancied  grievances,  and  eases  his  mind  harmlessly,  for  if  you 
know  him  you  know  that  he  means  no  tithe  of  what  he  says.  How 
many  confirmed  grumblers  prove  in  the  hour  of  trial  to  be  the  most 
patient  and  daring  of  men. 


40  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

And  how  often  has  the  charge  of  "demoralization"  been  cast 
upon  a  command,  with  no  better  foundation  than  a  few  hot  and  hasty 
words  heard  from  the  ranks  in  a  moment  of  dissatisfaction.  And 
even  when  such  words  are  followed  by  deeds  of  a  like  nature,  and 
insubordination  on  the  part  of  a  portion,  why  condemn  the  whole? 
Often  there  are  palliating  circumstances,  hard,  perhaps,  to  be  under 
stood  by  the  uninitiated,  and  often  suppressed  or  misrepresented  by 
those  whose  interest  or  prejudices  prompt  them  to  do  so. 

Another  word  for  the  volunteer.  Do  not  try  to  break  his  spirit, 
and  bind  him  forever  a  slave  to  discipline.  He  is  a  soldier  only  for 
the  time  of  need,  and  the  free  and  generous  impulses  that  prompted 
him  to  seek  a  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  nation's  vindicators,  demand 
for  him  the  usage  of  an  ally,  not  that  of  a  bondman.  Why  should 
the  line  that  defines  rank  be  so  strictly  drawn  ?  Are  there  not  thou 
sands  of  men  in  the  ranks  who  are,  in  mental  endowments  and  social 
position,  the  equals — in  many  cases  the  superiors — of  those  whose 
fortune  it  is  to  wear  the  shoulder-strap  ?  Where,  then,  is  thejustice 
of  giving  to  these  last  a  power  almost  unlimited  over  the  fortunes, 
the  very  lives,  of  those  ?  Where  thejustice  or  humanity  of  giving 
power  so  unbounded  that  the  most  degrading  punishments,  from 
which  there  is  no  appeal,  often  follow  the  most  trivial  offences,  aye, 
follow  often  where  there  is  no  offence,  except  to  the  pride  of  some 
petty  despot,  whose  term  of  brief  authority  may  be  forever  marked 
by  the  crushed  spirits  and  ruined  hopes  of  abused,  degraded 
manhood.  / 

We  believe  that  this  state  of  things  is  destined  to  change  for 
the  better,  that  they  are  now  changing,  and  never  will  again  obtain 
as  in  the  first  year  of  our  war  experience.  Fighting,  Fatigue  and 
Famine  are  great  levelers.  In  the  constant  front  of  Death  men 
remember  that  they  are  but  men,  all  alike  to  that  great  inexorable. 
Bullets  are  great  moralists,  they  are  republican,  they  teach  humility, 
they  respect  no  man,  they  tear  a  coat  of  blue  broad-cloth  as  ruth 
lessly  as  the  blouse  of  blue  woolen  that  covers  the  private's  breast. 

Pardon  this  digression,  dear  reader,  and  let  us  return  to  "  the 
thread  of  our  narrative."  We  were  saying  that  our  days  were 
passed  in  monotonous  routine.  Let  us  see  what  it  was  like. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  reveille  was  beaten  on  the 
parade  ground,  and  every  one  turned  out  of  his  bunk  ;  if  any  were 
lazy,  their  comrades  soon  worried  them  out.  Then  each  company 
fell  in  line  in  its  own  barrack,  and  the  roll  was  called  by  the  first 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  41 

sergeant,  in  the  presence  of  a  commissioned  officer  of  the  company. 
Then  the  mattresses  and  blankets  were  put  out  to  air,  a  detail  for 
police  duty  from  each  company  swept  and  cleaned  the  barracks, 
and  the  grounds  around  them  were  put  in  order. 

At  half-past  six  the  surgeon's  call  was  beaten,  and  a  sergeant 
reported  to  the  surgeon  with  the  sick  of  each  company.  Some 
were  sent  to  the  hospital  on  stretchers,  and  those  only  unfit  for  duty 
were  excused  for  the  day. 

At  seven  the  breakfast  call,  "  peas  upon  a  trencher,"  was 
sounded  and  beaten,  and  the  boys  "  fell  in  for  grub,"  as  they  said, 
and  were  marched  down  in  two  files  to  the  mess-house ;  the  files 
opened,  one  taking  each  side  of  one  of  the  long  tables.  Right-and- 
left,  Face,  Uncover,  and  Fall  to,  were  the  words  of  command,  and 
they  were  promptly  executed,  especially  the  fall  to.  Coffee,  with 
milk  and  sugar,  bread,  with  butter,  and  cold  meat,  generally  beef, 
comprised  the  bill  of  fare.  After  breakfast  the  muskets  were 
cleaned,  belts  blacked,  and  all  equipments  put  in  order;  then, 

At  half-past  eight,  the  "troop"  was  beaten  to  assemble  the 
guard  for  inspection,  on  the  parade  ground.  Guard  mounting  took 
place  at  nine,  and  immediately  after  every  company  fell  in  for  drill. 
Only  those  were  excused  who  were  unwell  and  reported  unfit  by 
the  surgeon,  and  the  guard  of  the  previous  day.  The  drill  lasted 
until  noon. 

At  twelve,  "Roast  Beef,"  the  signal  for  dinner,  gladdened  the 
ears  of  all  the  hungry  fellows  who  had  been  drilling  in  the  hot  sun, 
and  they  were  marched  to  the  tables  as  in  the  morning.  For  dinner 
the  bill  was  :  Soup — nondescript ;  generally  supposed  to  be  beef, 
although  various  opinions  prevailed.  Fish — cod;  sometimes,  gen 
erally,  not  any.  Roast — invisible.  Boiled — beef,  ham,  pork,  eggs. 
Vegetables — potatoes  "au  naturel,"  which  please  translate  "  in  their 
jackets."  Add  to  this  good  bread,  and  sometimes  a  pudding  of  the 
same,  and  you  have  as  good  a  dinner  as  a  soldier  cares  for.  After 
dinner  was  a  roll  call,  and  then,  at  1:30  p.  M.,  another  drill,  which 
lasted  until  4:30,  after  which  we  were  allowed  to  rest  or  amuse  our 
selves  in  camp  for  half  an  hour. 

At  five  the  supper  call  was  beaten.  Coffee,  bread  and  butter, 
and  a  stew  of  dried  apples:  sometimes  milk,  with  bread,  or  corn 
mush,  furnished  forth  the  meal.  And  did  we  grumble?  Some 
times.  But  verily  we  saw  not  as  yet  the  days  of  "  hard-tack  "  and 
"salt  horse  "  looming  in  the  future. 


42  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Then  all  prepared  for  "dress  parade."  Uniforms,  arms  and 
accoutrements  were  made  to  look  as  neat  and  bright  as  possible ; 
boots  and  belts  were  blacked,  and  at  six  was  beaten  the  "  Retreat," 
the  regiment  formed  in  line  of  battle,  with  the  guard  on  the  left. 

Our  evening  parade  was  generally  witnessed  by  a  crowd  of 
civilians,  of  which  the  ladies  formed  the  largest  and  most  interest 
ing  part,  and  it  would  be  hard  to  say  which  were  the  most  admired 
by  the  others,  the  girls  or  the  "sojer  laddies."  Many  a  gentle 
heart  was  led  "  capty ve  "  by  the  silver  gray  jacket  with  the  brass 
buttons, — your  pardon,  ladies, — we  mean  by  some  good  looking 
fellow  inside  of  it,  and  many  a  "  Son  of  Mars  "  yielded  to  the  same 
power  that  alone  could  control  that  puissant  old  divinity,  and  which 
has  ever  since  shared  the  homage  of  his  votaries. 

After  parade,  which  generally  lasted  about  an  hour,  the  camp 
was  alive  with  fun  and  frolic,  in  which  the  visitors  generally  shared, 
taking,  however,  a  more  quiet  part  than  the  boisterous  fellows  who 
were  thus  making  up  for  the  restraints  of  the  hours  of  duty.  Then 
it  was  that  the  "Rogers"*  formed  their  whimsical  line,  and  exe 
cuted  their  ludicrous  manoeuvres,  to  the  infinite  peril  of  buttons  and 
waist-bands  among  the  laugh-tortured  spectators.  Or  leap-frog, 
double-cluck,  foot  and  base  ball,  or  sparring,  wrestling  and  racing, 
shared  their  attention,  and  all  was  mirth  and  jollity  until  the  twilight 

*  The  diabolical  wags  of  the  Twenty-First  are  never  idle.  They  have  organi/ed  a  regiment 
within  the  Twenty-First ,  and  elected  the  following  officers:  Seymour  Colton,  Colonel ;  Albert  F. 
Ransom,  Lieutenant-Colonel  ;  Gcoge  M.  Love,  Major;  Byron  Schermerhorn,  Captain;  Cleveland 
Houghton,  Lieutenant;  Henry  Beehe,  Knsign  ;  D.  L.  Aberdein,  Orderly  Sergeant. 

The  drill  of  this  regiment  is  remarkably  peculiar,  the  tactics  being  entirely  different  from 
Scott's  or  Hardee's.  They  have  a  name  for  theirs,  which  just  now  I  don't  remember.  It  is  a  singu 
lar  one,  however.  No  person  is  allowed  in  the  ranks  unless  he  talks  all  the  time,  keeps  his  hands  in 
his  pockets,  and  turns  in  all  his  toes.  He  must  keep  silence  violently  in  a  loud  voice,  or  otherwise 
he  is  hung  up  by  the  heels  till  his  nose  bleeds.  The  name  of  the  regiment  is  the  "Rogers  Regi 
ment,"  or  in  the  vulgate,  the  "  Rogers  Rangers."  The  word  of  command  is  also  peculiar.  For 
instance,  when  the  Captain  wishes  to  have  them  mark  time,  he  exclaims  as  the  caution,  "Rogers, 

The  company  immediately  "git"  as  ordered,  as  a  matter  of  course.     Other  orders  are  as 

follows:   (oxen  terms  are  most  popular)    '  gee  Jlank git  !  "  and  they  consequently  "  git,"  "  Invm 

Hank git!"    and    they    "git."     The    command    "rest Kit!"    is  carried  out  by    every  man 

embracing  the  man  in  front  of  him,  and  then  all  sitting  down  on  each  others  laps,  all  talking  loudly  to 

keep    perfect   silence    all  the  time.     The    word    "mark   time -git !  "  is  executed  by    each    man 

getting  back  to  back  with  his  neighbor,  locking  arms,  and  then  alternately  throwing  each  other  in  the 
air,  their  feet  marking  time  as  they  come  down  on  the  ground.  On  dress  parade,  the  command 

"  Rest git  .'"  is  followed  by  all  the  men  getting  around  the  Colonel  in  a  circle,  and  sitting  in  each 

others  laps.  Of  all  ridiculous  paraphrases  or  travesties  on  realities,  this  beats  them  all.  It  is  the 
most  absurd  of  absurdities,  and  the  funniest  of  funny  performances.  No  pen  can  describe  the  drill, 
and  no  one  can  possibly  comprehend  the  waggery  of  it  without  seeing  it.  There  is  a  great  deal 
more  genius  m  it  than  in  any  other  drill,  and  more  sarcasm  than  can  be  expressed  in  writing. — 
Courier. 


TWENTY- FIRST     REGIMENT.  43 

gathered  them  in  groups  around  the  quarters.  Then  our  Glee 
Club  carrolled  the  songs  of  home,  while  all  listened,  and  many  an 
eye  unused  to  tears,  dimmed  in  the  gloaming,  when  no  one  could 
see  its  tribute  to  past  hours  and  clear  absent  ones, — hours  gone 
forever,  clear  ones  we  might  meet  no  more  on  earth. 

Those  evenings  were  pleasant  ones,  they  are  pleasant  to  look 
back  upon,  and  many  a  soldier  remembers  them  as  among  his  hap 
piest.  It  was  like  the  renewing  of  one's  school  days,  and  no  school 
boys  just  let  loose  from  their  tasks  ever  were  happier,  or  gave 
themselves  up  with  less  reserve  to  unlimited  fun,  than  did  we. 
Still  when  we  recall  those  times,  sad  thoughts  mingle  with  our 
recollections  :  Of  those  who  sported  with  us  there,  how  few  are 
left?  Of  those  whose  strains  lightened  many  a  sad  hour  then,— 
many  a  weary  one  after,— how  many  will  ever  lift  their  voices  on 
earth  again?*  Poor  Charley  Dutton  died  at  Fredericksburgh ; 
brave  Al.  Swartz  sleeps  in  a  soldier's  grave  at  Bull  Run,  and  the 
same  field  was  fatal  to  his  noble  cousin,  Charles.  There,  too,  fell 
that  best  of  comrades,  Billy  Rice,  mourned  and  avenged  by  a  host 
of  friends,  who  can  never  forget  the  manly  qualities  that  endeared 
him. 

The  following  letter,  by  one  of  our  visitors,  was  written  after 
A  DAY  IN  THE  CAMP  OF  THE  TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. 

One  great  cause  of  debasement  in  camp  life  grows  out  of  the  spare  time  which 
is  usually  at  the  disposal  of  the  soldier  and  officer.  There  is  always  a  temptation  to 
listlessness,  when  off  duty,  which  is  hard  to  resist,  and  unless  some  cause  exists  that 
will  stimulate  mental  energy,  bad  habits  are  liable  to  be  engendered.  The  intelli 
gence,  therefore,  of  a  body  of  men  gathered  together  as  these  are,  in  a  regiment  in 
camp,  is  pretty  accurately  indicated  by  their  amusements  while  off  duty.  The 
officers  who  truly  conserve  the  best  interests  of  their  men,  will  encourage  those  kinds 
of  out-door  exercises  and  sports  which  will  furnish  amusement,  and  keep  the  mind 
active  as  well  as  the  body.  I  was  not  surprised,  therefore,  to  see  how  extensively 
the  amusements  which  had  been  practiced  in  their  leisure  hours  in  the  city,  were 
continued  in  camp.  Boxing  with  the  gloves,  ball-playing,  running  and  jumping, 
were  among  these.  The  ball  clubs  are  well  represented  here,  and  the  exercise  of 
their  favorite  game  is  carried  on  spiritedly  by  the  Buffalo  boys.  To  those  who  have 
heard  the  performances  of  the  Glee  Club  at  home,  I  need  not  say  that  finer  singing 
is  rarely  heard  than  was  listened  to  last  evening,  after  the  close  of  the  evening 
parade,  closing  with  "  Home,  Sweet  Home."  I  detected  many  a  moistened  eye  at 
the  thoughts  thus  awakened. 


*'J'he  Club  comprised  the  following  singers  :  Charles  A.  Swart/,  tenor  and  alto  ;  W.  J.  (Jib- 
son,  air  ;  H.  H.  Oberist.alto;  H.  Wells,  tenor  and  alto;  William  Rice,  basso  ;  Charles  P.  Dutton. 
air  and  tenor;  Albert  Swart/,  tenor  ;  R.  B.  Buck,  air. 


44  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

I  was  pleased  at  the  marked  absenee  of  vulgarity,  either  in  words  or  actions, 
both  among  officers  and  men.  The  sanitary  condition  of  the  regiment  is  best  shown 
in  the  Surgeon's  daily  reports.  Though  there  are  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  re 
ported  on  the  sick  list,  probably  there  is  no  day  that  the  average  of  those  who  could 
not  bear  arms  would  exceed  twelve  out  of  all  in  the  list. 

The  mistakes  of  the  sentinels  often  furnish  amusement,  and  help  to  many  a 
hearty  laugh.  For  instance,  the  other  night  the  corporal  of  the  guard  gave  as  the 
countersign  to  his  men  the  word  "  University  "  when  the  real  word  given  by  the 
proper  officer  to  him  was  "  Uuena  Vista."  Another  gave  "  Saragossa  "  for  "  Cerro 
Gordo,"  and  one  of  the  sentinels  was  passed  by  giving  "  Rhine-wine"  for  "  Brandy- 
wine."  The  sentry  was  from  the  "  Faderland  "  of  course.  Another  passed  on  "  York 
shire,"  when  the  real  word  was  "  Yorktown." 

In  closing  this  letter,  if  I  could  be  permitted  to  make  a  few  suggestions,  and 
could  be  sure  that  they  would  be  taken  in  the  same  spirit  of  kindness  as  intended,  I 
should  say  that  the  present  high  position  of  the  reginTent  can  be  not  only  maintained, 
but  increased,  and  I  trust  will  be,  by  a  careful  attention  to  the  morals  of  the  men. 
Profanity  is  no  part  of  a  soldier's  duty,  nor  a  qualification  for  lighting  a  good  battle. 
The  biggest  bullies  I  have  ever  known  were  always  profane,  and  generally  in  pro 
portion  to  their  cowardice.  An  officer  cannot  expect  either  the  respect  or  ready 
obedience  of  his  men,  who  uses  profane  language  to  them  or  in  their  presence. 
Major  Anderson  is  a  prayerful  man,  and  he  is  a  brave  man.  Col.  Ilavelock,  in 
India,  was  a  prayerful  man,  and  who  will  soon  forget  him?  The  officer  has  a  double 
responsibility  upon  him,  for  his  example  will  have  great  influence  upon  his  men. 

I  am  aware  that  I  am  trespassing  upon  the  chaplain's  prerogative,  but  anxiety 
that  Buffalo  should  always  occupy  and  maintain  the  high  position  it  now  holds  in  the 
estimation  of  the  public,  is  my  excuse.  The  city  may  well  be  proud  of  its 
regiment,  and  the  men  all  feel  gratified  and  grateful  for  the  many  favors  which  have 
been  bestowed  upon  them;  and  this  has  done  much  to  get  up  the  fine  spirit  that  now 
prevails  in  it.  Hut  do  not  stop  now.  Stationery  is  much  needed.  It  costs  not  less 
than  twenty-live  dollars  a  week  to  pay  for  the  postage  and  stationery  used  by  the 
officers  and  men  in  their  family  correspondence.  By  the  appointment  of  a  post 
master,  the  way  for  relieving  this  heavy  item  of  expense  has  been  opened,  and  the 
city  should  see  that  the  proper  means  are  supplied.  At  least  fifty  dollars  worth  of 
stamps  or  stamped  envelopes,  and  the  same  amount  of  stationery,  should  be  for 
warded  at  once  to  the  Colonel,  for  the  postmaster  to  keep  in  reserve,  to  distribute 
when  needed.  Remember  that  when  a  man  is  writing  a  letter  he  is  sure  to  be  well 
employed.  It  has  been  a  heavy  task  upon  the  officers  to  find  these  little  items  for 
their  men.  It  should  not  be. 

Soldiering  has  its  pains:  but  I  must  say  I  leave  the  camp  with  regret.  I  have 
so  well  enjoyed  myself  with  the  officers  and  men,  have  had  so  much  pleasure  in  their 
company,  that  were  it  in  my  power  I  should  follow  the  regiment,  if  only  for  the  con 
tinuation  of  the  enjoyment.  They  are  now  ready  to  move,  and  I  hope  they  will  soon 
be  at  the  seat  of  war.  Wherever  they  go,  may  God's  best  blessings  go  with  them  all. 

r. 

On  the  2oth  day  of  May   we  were  mustered  into  the  service 
of     the     United     States,     for    the    term    of     three     months.       At 


TWENTY -FIRST    REGIMENT.  45 

the  same  time  the  companies  were  limited  to  seventy-eight  men 
each;  a  general  weeding  out  of  the  least  efficient  men  took  place, 
and  the  surplus  number  of  good  men  in  some  of  the  companies 
transferred  to  others  that  lacked  their  complement  of  such. 

On  the  2ist  of  May  the  regiment  received  the  handsome  uni 
form  originally  intended  for  the  74th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  N.  G.  It 
consisted  of  cap,  jacket  and  pants  of  gray  cloth,  trimmed  with  black, 
and  an  overcoat  of  a  bluish  black,  lined  with  red.  Others  of  the 
volunteer  regiments  at  Elmira  were  uniformed  at  about  the  same 
time,  but  with  a  vastly  inferior  quality  of  cloth,  for  which  "  shoddy  " 
was  a  most  appropriate  name.  Contracts  had  been  given  to  the 
lowest  bidders,  and  the  result  was  that  in  their  haste  to  uniform  the 
troops,  the  authorities  were  obliged  to  accept  such  clothing  as 
contractors  chose  to  furnish.  The  under-clothing  dealt  out  at  the 
same  time  was  excellent,  the  best  we  received  while  in  the  service. 
This  uniform  was  also  in  many  cases  a  cause  of  disaster  to  our  State 
troops,  from  its  similarity  of  color  to  that  worn  by  the  rebels. 
Witness  the  first  battle  at  Bull  Run,  where  regiments  of  supposed 
Federal  troops  were  allowed  to  gain  important  positions,  and  only 
discovered  to  be  enemies  when  too  late  to  be  successfully  opposed. 
In  more  than  one  instance  a  galling  fire  from  Hank  or  rear  would  be 
the  first  intimation  of  their  presence. 

The  following  announcement  appeared  in  the  Express  of  May 
iyth:  "The  announcement  that  Dr.  Charles  H.  Wilcox  has  been 
appointed  Surgeon,  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Peters,  Surgeon's  Mate,  of  the 
Buffalo  Regiment,  is  a  cause  for  congratulation.  Dr.  Wilcox  has  had 
a  long  experience  in  both  medical  and  surgical  practice.  Aside 
from  a  large  family  business  for  twenty  years  in  this  city,  he  has 
been  U.  S.  Surgeon  to  the  Marine  Hospital,  and  has  held  import 
ant  places  on  the  staff  of  both  the  Sisters  of  Charity  and  the  Gen 
eral  Hospitals.  In  temper  he  is  kind-hearted  and  genial,  and  will 
win  the  confidence  of  the  men. 

"  Dr.  Peters  is  a  young  man  of  fine  talents  and  high  character. 
He  has  seen  service  as  a  resident  physician  at  the  Aims-House. 
He  is  a  son  of  Hon.  T.  C.  Peters,  of  Darien,  the  celebrated  agricult 
urist." 

On  the  22d  day  of  May,  Dr.  Wilcox  arrived  with  his  commis 
sion  as  Surgeon.  All  who  knew  him  were  delighted  at  our  good 
fortune  in  securing  his  invaluable  skill  and  experience  for  ourselves, 
and  those  who  saw  him  for  the  first  time  were  inspired  with  con- 


46  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

fidence  in  his  ability  and  worthiness  for  the  responsible  position  he 
had  been  solicted  to  assume.  That  his  presence  was  at  once  a 
benefit  to  the  regiment  the  following  letter  testifies : 

ELMIRA,  May  28th,  1861. 

In  our  regiment  everything  is  working  as  neatly  as  a  well  oiled  steam  engine, 
the  engineer  who  built  it  "  running  the  machine."  The  boys  have  already  got  down 
to  their  work,  and  drilling  and  confinement  have  become  matters  of  course  with 
them.  A  day  or  so  ago,  they  complained  about  the  food  furnished  them,  upon 
which  Dr.  \Vilcox,  the  Surgeon  of  the  regiment,  took  a  walk  through  the  mess- 
house  in  the  afternoon,  which  so  startled  the  contractors  that  that  night  the  boys 
fairly  reveled  in  sweet  new  milk,  the  most  arabesque  of  mush,  superlatively  golden  grass 
butter,  and  preternaturally  excellent  apple  sauce.  The  visit  of  the  Doctor  was  not 
without  permanent  effect ;  for  since  then  the  companies, — who  have  publicly  stated 
that  the  steaks  for  their  use  were  cut  from  every  part  of  the  animal  but  the  horns  and 
hoofs, — feel  perfectly  satisfied,  and  wreak  not  their  vengeance  on  spectral  con 
tractors,  by  making  daily  hail-storms  of  vile  and  insufficient  beef. 

There  was  a  batallion  drill  at  our  camp  this  afternoon,  under  the  command  of 
our  worthy  colonel.  A  great  many  spectators  were  present,  all  of  whom  were 
highly  pleased  with  the  fine  martial  appearance  of  the  regiment.  The  drill  was 
excellent,  and  exhibited  the  fact  that  all  hands, — officers  and  men, — are  paying  the 
closest  attention  to  discipline,  and  that  in  a  short  time,  in  the  matter  of  soldierly 
appearance  and  drill,  no  volunteer  command  in  the  State  can  exceed  them.  Their 
officers  are  picked  men,  and  the  material  of  rank  and  file  is  far  superior  to  the  aver 
age  of  volunteers. 

I  notice  that  George  13.  Dudley,  of  your  city,  is  here  and  has  obtained  the 
appointment  of  Assistant  Commissary  of  this  military  department,  under  the  direction  of 
Capt,  Tidball,  U.  S.  A.  He  is  a  go-ahead  individual,  as  the  people  of  Buffalo  know, 
and  has  already  obtained  much  praise  for  the  manner  in  which  he  carries  out  the 
duties  of  his  new  position. 

The  Rochester  regiment,  Col.  Quinby,  and  the  Syracuse  regiment,  Col.  Wai- 
rath,  are  announced  to  move  to-morrow  for  Washington.  Unless  there  is  an 
immense  slip  betwixt  the  cup  and  the  lip,  they  will  be  off  on  the  cars  early  in  the 
morning.  There  is  but  little  stirring  here,  especially  money. 

H.  W.  FAXON. 

The  same  gentleman  thus  reports  the  departure  of  the  two 
regiments  mentioned : 

ELM  IK  A,  May  29111,  1861. 

EDITORS  COURIER  :— At  last  the  troops  begin  to  move,  and  this  military  depart 
ment  is  decreased  to-day  by  the  absence  of  fifteen  hundred  men.  The  Rochester 
regiment,  Col.  Ouinby,  and  the  Syracuse  regiment,  Col.  Walrath,  left  this  noon  on 
freight  trains  for  Washington,  via  Williamsport  and  Philadelphia.  The  Buffalo 
regiment,  Col.  Rogers,  turned  out  in  full  strength  to  escort  them,  and  looked  and 
marched  nobly.  The  procession,  consisting  of  the  Utica,  Cayuga,  and  Buffalo  regi 
ments,  marched  through  the  streets  to  the  barracks  of  the  Rochester  and  Syracuse 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  47 

regiments,  and  from  thence  marched  again  through  the  city,  halting  in  front  of  the 
Brainard  House,  where  they  gave  three  rousing  cheers  for  Gen.  Van  Valkenburg, 
whose  office  is  in  that  building. 

The  mu/zles  of  nearly  all  the  muskets  of  the  departing  troops  were  ornamented 
with  evergreens  and  flowers,  and  many  had  evergreens  in  their  belts  and  hats,  in 
token  that  the  memory  of  the  friends  they  have  left  behind  would  remain  ever  fresh 
in  their  bosoms.  After  marching  through  the  town  they  proceeded  to  the  depot.  The 
Buffalo  regiment  was  drawn  up  in  two  ranks  on  one  side  of  the  road,  and  the  Utica 
regiment  on  the  other, — the  departing  regiments  marching  between  them  to  the  cars, 
receiving  the  military  salutation  as  they  passed. 

A  large  crowd  had  assembled  at  the  depot  to  witness  their  departure,  among 
whom  were  a  large  number  of  ladies,  friends  and  relatives  of  the  soldiers.  There 
were  young  girls  crying  on  the  platforms;  mothers  were  sobbing  in  the  streets; 
women  weeping  on  the  balconies;  and  sisters  mourning  on  the  galleries;  strongmen 
were  breaking  away  from  loving  white  arms,  and  with  quivering  lips  and  large 
lumps  in  their  throats,  vainly  endeavored  to  look  and  feel  unconcerned.  White 
handkerchiefs  were  saturated  with  real  tears,  and  wrung  and  re-wrung  out;  and 
though  drums  were  beating  and  the  air  was  filled  with  music,  with  ilying  banners, 
and  cheers  and  sunshine,  all  present  felt  sad  indeed,  as  they  pressed  a  parting"  good 
bye  "  on  hand  or  lip,  and  experienced  the  regret  that  is  always  connected  with  the 
thought  of  possible  disaster. 

Both  departing  regiments  looked  and  marched  well,  but  the  Buffalo  regiment 
was  pronounced  by  all  to  be  the  best  in  Elmira,  and  decidedly  superior  to  all  in 
point  of  drill  and  uniform.  All  were  lavish  in  their  encomiums,  of  which  Col 
Rogers  and  his  regiment  may  well  feel  proud.  The  clothing  and  shoes  of  the 
Rochester  and  Syracuse  regiments,  I  am  informed  by  Col.  Walker,  came  to-day,  but 
too  late  for  distribution.  These  important  articles  will  be  at  once  sent  after  them. 

The  Buffalo  boys  are  steadily  to  their  work,  drilling  almost  constantly,  and  are 
daily  improving  in  discipline.  But  very  few  leave  the  camp  for  the  town,  and  cases  of 
neglect  of  duty,  disobedience  of  orders,  or  drunkenness,  are  rare.  Col.  Rogers  and 
his  excellent  staff  intend  to  turn  out  the  very  best  drilled  and  most  efficient  regiment  in 
the  State,  before  they  leave  here,  and  from  present  appearances  there  is  little  chance 
of  failure. 

Ex-Governor  King  arrived  here  this  morning,  and  has  been  engaged  all  day  in 
examining  the  different  barracks  and  inspecting  the  regiments,  probably  for  his  own 
personal  satisfaction. 

FRIDAY,  May  31. 

The  departure  of  fifteen  hundred  troops  has  made  a  considerable  vacancy  in  the 
business  of  the  town,  and  hotel  keepers  and  furnishers  of  supplies  feel  it  sensibly. 
Sixty  commissioned  officers  gone  from  one  dinner  table  produces  a  paucity  of 
belmgled  caps,  striped  pants,  &c.,  and  a  violent  lack  of  three-ply  gilt  buttons.  Their 
places,  however  will  soon  be  filled,  and  butchers  and  contractors  will  again  rejoice, 
and  hotel  proprietors  and  clerks  grow  jubilant. 

The  camp  to-day  was  visited  by  many  hundreds  of  people,  mostly  ladies. 
Among  the  gentlemen  were  Gen.  Van  Valkenburg  and  Col.  Walker.  Yesterday 
Ex-Governor  King  paid  the  Buffalonians  the  compliment  of  visiting  their  camp,  and 


48  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

inspecting  the  soldiers  and  their  quarters.  He  expressed  himself  highly  gratified  at 
the  appearance  of  everything  and  everybody,  and  at  the  order  and  system  that 
reigned  in  every  department.  At  the  battallion  drill  he  was  especially  pleased,  and 
acknowledged  he  had  not  seen  a  finer  or  better  uniformed  regiment. 

On  Tuesday  Col.  Rogers  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  John  S.  Trowbridge,  your 
city  treasurer,  stating  that  ten  liberal  gentlemen  of  Buffalo  had  made  up  a  purse  for 
the  purpose  of  purchasing  seven  water-proof  capes  for  the  sentries  from  each  com 
pany, — seventy  in  all.  No  names  were  mentioned.  A  large  box  came  to-day  to  the 
camp,  containing  the  capes,  each  one  marked  with  the  letter  of  its  company,  and  all 
in  excellent  order.  They  were  manufactured  by  Tweedy  &  Smith,  and  are  of  the 
best  material.  The  boys  are  exceedingly  grateful  for  this  attention  to  their  wants, 
and  as  the  Colonel  is  in  doubt  as  to  who  are  the  liberal  donors,  the  boys  express  their 
thankfulness  through  this  medium.  The  donation  is  a  most  appropriate  one,  and  is 
commensurately  appreciated. 

The  discipline  of  the  camp  has  the  effect  of  leveling  all  previous  social  positions 
to  one  of  entire  equality.  It  is  very  instructive  to  go  into  the  kitchen  and  mess- 
houses  and  see  here  a  lawyer  washing  dishes;  a  physician  scouring  knives;  a  book 
keeper  scrubbing  floors  ;  and  others  of  other  professions  peeling  potatoes,  or  cutting 
up  beef.  A  number  of  men  are  detailed  from  each  company  daily  to  do  the  regen 
erating  process,  and  each  and  all  must  take  their  turns. 

The  officers'  quarters  are  almost  ready  for  occupation.  They  are  built  in  the 
rear,  a  short  distance  from  the  quarters  of  the  men,  and  will  be  ready  by  to-morrow 
night.  The  first  room  on  the  right  is  occupied  by  the  Colonel,  Major  and  Lieut. - 
Colonel.  Next  comes  the  Quartermaster's  department,  with  its  desks,  shelves  and 
stores;  and  adjoining  that,  the  quarters  for  captains,  lieutenants  and  ensigns. 

I  went  around  with  the  Quartermaster,  H.  P.  Clinton,  to-day,  to  the  kitchens, 
mess-houses,  &c.,  and  examined  the  supplies,  &c.  Mr.  Clinton  has  started  out  to 
make  the  regiment  satisfied,  and  if  labor  night  and  day,  by  himself  and  his  assistant, 
P.  C.  Doyle,  will  do  it,  the  matter  will  be  2111  fait  accompli. 

This  afternoon  Capt.  S.  I,.  Potter,  soon  to  lie  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Jefferson 
County  regiment,  on  the  invitation  of  Col.  Rogers,  came  down  to  camp  for  the  pur 
pose  of  drilling  a  company  as  an  example  for  the  regiment,  in  Scott's  Light  Infantry 
Tactics.  The  regiment  was  formed  in  line  at  the  extreme  front  of  the  parade  ground, 
under  the  command  of  the  Colonel,  who,  after  getting  them  in  order,  addressed  the 
regiment,  stating  the  fact  and  reason  of  Capt.  Potter's  attendence.  Co.  "  B,"  Capt. 
Henry  Gaylord,  received  the  honor  of  being  the  company  selected  to  drill  on  the 
occasion,  and  well  they  proved  the  justice  of  Col.  Rogers'  choice.  Unfamiliar  with 
the  difference  between  Scott's  tactics  and  Hardee's,  I  am  unable  to  institute  a  com 
parison  between  them  ;  but  to  the  entire  regiment,  officers  and  all,  a  series  of  more 
brilliant  yet  simple  and  rapid  movements  were  never  executed;  and  these  by  Co. 
"  B,"  in  twenty  minutes  after  Capt.  Potter  had  taken  charge  of  them.  Col.  Rogers 
was  so  pleased  with  the  movements  that  he  invited  Capt.  Potter  to  come  again  to 
morrow,  and  continue  his  invaluable  instruction. 

During  Capt.  Potter's  drill,  one  of  the  prettiest  incidents  imaginable  occured. 
There  was  a  stir  at  the  gate  of  the  guard  house;  a  sudden  influx  of  people;  a  divis 
ion  of  the  crowd,  from  out  of  which  issued  a  number  of  the  minutest  little  soldiers, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  49 

beautifully  uniformed,  led  by  life  and  drum,  the  oldest  of  the  corps  being  a  charm 
ing  stalwart  fellow  of  seven  years  of  age,  who  commanded.  They  marched  directly 
to  Captain  Layton's  company  quarters  (this  company,  "  K,"  is  now  called  the 
"James  Adams  Starbuck  Rangers,"  in  compliment  to  our  distinguished  fellow  citizen 
connected  with  the  tobacco  interest),  and  arriving  there,  presented  to  Capt.  Layton, 
in  behalf  of  the  ladies  of  Elmira,  a  beautiful  ilag  made  of  bunting.  The  gigantic 
little  commander  made  a  neat  little  speech,  expressing  himself  in  very  choice  lan 
guage,  asserting  the  esteem  in  which  the  Buffalo  regiment  was  held  by  the  people  of 
Elmira,  and  acknowledging  the  respect  which  //is  little  regiment  felt  for  the  Twenty- 
First.  The  Orderly  Sergeant  of  "  K,"  at  the  conclusion  of  the  speech,  brought 
foith  a  handsome  little  ilag  on  a  turned  staff,  surmounted  by  a  bayonet,  which  he  pre 
sented  to  the  exaggerated  commander  of  the  lilliputian  regiment,  in  an  excellent 
speech. 

Col.  Rogers,  then,  with  the  must  fatherly,  kind  and  tender  remarks,  addressed 
the  children  in  behalf  of  Capt.  Layton,  thanking  them  for  the  ilag;  exhorting  them 
to  be  good  children,  to  obey  their  fathers  and  mothers,  assuring  them  that  those 
children  who  obeyed  that  divine  injunction,  "honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother," 
would  always  be  good  citi/ens,  and  that  they  who  did  their  duty  by  their  parents 
were  the  sure  resource  of  their  country  in  time  of  need  and  danger.  He  expected 
that  this  incident  would  be  remembered  by  all  of  them,  and  that  when  they  grew  up, 
and  he  was  an  old  man,  he  would  hear  of  them  doing  honorable  service  in  the 
defence  and  support  of  their  country's  glory  and  honor.  He  accepted  the  flag,  and 
would  have  it  floating  over  the  camp  until  the  regiment  was  ordered  away,  when  it 
would  be  carried  with  it,  and  should  be  returned,  though  in  tatters  from  shot  and  the 
conflict.  At  the  conclusion  the  boys  gave  three  cheers  for  Col.  Rogers,  which  was 
responded  to  by  three  cheers  from  hundreds  of  hearty  throats  for  the  little  regiment 
and  its  "  little  corporal."  The  flag  was  then  hoisted  on  a  new  ilag  staff  erected  in 
front  of  the  camp,  where  it  now  waves  as  the  gift  of  the  children  and  ladies  of 
Elmira.  A  number  of  Havelocks  have  arrived.  Mr.  J.  E.  Mackey  returns  his 
thanks  to  Mrs.  George  R.  JJabcock  ;  Mr.  John  Stowe  to  Mrs.  O.  II.  Marshall;  and 
Mr.  Stanley  Porter  to  Mrs.  Win.  F.  Miller,  for  one  of  those  testimonials  of  their  kind 
remembrance. 

II.  W.   FAXON. 

On  Saturday,  June  ist,  occured  the  first  death  in  the  regiment. 
Frank  Aigne,  a  member  oi  Capt.  Thomas1  company,  was  drowned 
while  bathing  in  the  Chemung. 

Amusing  himself  as  others  were  doing,  on  a  rudely-constructed 
raft,  he  went  suddenly  into  deep  water,  where  his  pole  would  not 
touch  ground,  and  losing  his  balance,  and  not  knowing  how  to 
swim,  went  to  the  very  bottom  of  a  deep  hole.  More  than  an  hour 
afterwards  John  Stowe,  of  "  D  "  Co.,  who,  with  others,  had  been 
making  every  effort  to  rescue  the  unfortunate  man,  found  him  there, 
his  hands  tightly  clinched  round  a  root  he  had  grasped  in  his  death 
struggles,  and  which  had  to  be  broken  before  the  body  could  be 


50  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

brought  to  the  surface.  He  was  lain  upon  a  rude  litter,  and  borne 
sadly  to  camp  on  the  shoulders  of  those  who  had  so  recently  seen 
that  white,  cold,  still  clod,  a  being  of  life,  ruddy  and  active,  and 
joyously  vieing  with  them  in  feats  of  strength  and  activity.  Next 
day,  with  the  solemn  strains  of  the  dead  march,  and  the  mournful 
beat  of  muffled  drums,  they  bore  him  to  the  cemetery,  and  his 
comrades  fired  a  parting  volley  over  the  last  resting  place  of  him 
whose  fete  it  was  to  die  before  ever  meeting  the  foes  of  his  adopted 
country.  He  was  a  German,  a  stranger  to  all  when  he  enlisted,  and 
no  one  knew  where  was  his  home. 

Thus  did  Death  claim  his  first  tithe  from  our  ranks,  the  pio 
neer  of  a  long  list  of  names  that  are  heard  no  more  at  roll-call,  and 
that  will  never  be  answered  to  until  that  great  day  when  it  shall  be 
said  to  ALL  the  martyrs,  "  Come,  good  and  faithful  servants." 

On  June  5th  the  Elmira  correspondent  of  the  N.  Y.  World 
writes  as  follows :  "  The  Cayuga,  Buffalo  and  Hillhouse  regiments 
are  the  only  ones  that  have  received  their  arms,  and,  indeed,  the 
only  ones  that  are  uniformed.  The  Bufialo  men  were  uniformed  by 
their  fellow  citizens,  and  present  a  fine  appearance.  Their  cloth  is 
precisely  the  same  as  that  worn  by  the  Seventh  Regiment  National 
Guard,  and  this,  added  to  their  superior  soldierly  bearing,  makes 
one  look  upon  them  as  a  twin  of  the  heroic  guard." 

In  Mr.  Faxon's  correspondence  with  the  Courier,  we  find  the 
following  : 

ELMIRA,  June  8th,  1861. 

Yesterday  and  to-day  were  given  almost  entirely  to  the  benefit  of  the  preventive 
service.  Small-pox  having  been  announced  as  one  of  the  warlike  weapons  in  use 
by  our  rebellious  friends  in  Virginia,  to  scatter  among  our  troops  as  a  soldier  would 
throw  hand  grenades,  our  Surgeon,  Dr.  Wilcox,  with  Dr.  Peters,  Assistant, 
announced  his  intention  of  erecting  an  inseparable  barricade  of  prevention,  by  intro 
ducing  into  the  entire  human  economy  of  the  regiment  a  little  vaccine  matter. 
Accordingly,  yesterday  after  dinner,  they  commenced.  First,  a  company  was  drawn 
up  in  line  in  front  of  the  Surgeon's  quarters,  with  their  coats  off,  and  each  advanced 
into  the  dispensary,  where  sat  in  serious  state  the  sanitary  elements  of  the  camp, 
armed  with  lancets  and  matter  for  reflection.  The  Surgeon  would  bare  the  arm, 
ask  the  soldier  when  he  had  been  vaccinated ;  whether  he  had  the  small-pox  or  not ; 
and  before  the  patient  had  finished  answering  he  was  a  vaccinnated  man,  and  his 
entire  vaccine  history  was  recorded  by  Dr.  Peters  in  a  book  furnished  for  the  pur 
pose.  The  men  were  not  aware  of  what  was  going  forward  at  first,  and  their  minds 
wavered  in  many  cases  between  anticipations  of  doses  of  aloes  and  jalap,  and  having 
their  legs  sawed  off.  But  all  of  them  came  out  laughing  as  though  they  had  enjoyed 
a  new  sensation,  and  were  exulting  over  it.  The  rapidity  with  which  these  opera- 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  c^I 

tions  were  performed  was  remarkable — one  hundred  and  fifty-four  men  having  been 
vaccinated  in  less  than  two  hours.  The  health  of  the  regiment  is  excellent,  and 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  light  cases  of  measles,  the  condition  of  the  regiment 
could  not  be  bettered. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Robie  has  become  at  once 'a  general  favorite,  lie  has  donned 
the  theological  uniform,  which  is  a  straight,  rather  long,  single-breasted  coat,  with 
the  regular  eruption  of  brass  buttons  in  front,  and  looks  as  though  he  was  ready,  at 
an  instant's  warning,  to  engage  the  rebels  of  the  South  or  the  foe  of  all  mankind, 
lie  eats  at  the  same  table  with  the  men,  and  his  continual  contact  with  them,  and 
example,  exert  a  wholesome  restraint  upon  the  boys,  the  effect  of  which  is  immediate. 
To-morrow  he  will  preach  on  the  parade  ground,  unless  we  have  rain,  and  the 
choir,  consisting  of  twenty  members,  whose  names  I  have  previously  given  you,  led 
by  Lieut. -Col.  Root,  who  will  play  the  camp  organ,  will  make  sacredly  vocal  the 
barracks,  in  praise  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

Our  muskets,  received  June  loth,  were  of  the  old  smooth -bore 
pattern,  made  at  Springfield  in  1840-42.  They  had  once  been 
flint-locks,  but  had  been  altered  to  use  caps,  and,  although  a  ser 
viceable  arm,  were  not  what  the  boys  expected.  We  had  seen  other 
regiments  armed  with  rifles,  and  imagining  those  arms  to  be  vastly 
superior  to  ours,  we  were  naturally  dissatisfied  at  not  receiving 
them  too.  We  had  yet  to  learn  that  the  old  "buck  and  ball"  * 
cartridges  were  far  more  effective  at  ordinary  range  than  the  minie. 
However,  we  were  consoled  with  the  idea  that  this  was  only  a  tem 
porary  arrangement,  until  better  arms  could  be  procured  for  us. 

Our  carnal  weapons  supplied,  and  having  chosen  temporal 
leaders,  it  was  now  expedient  to  select  a  spiritual  commander;  one 
to  lead  us  in  "the  good  fight,"  and  accordingly,  on  the  ist  day  of 
June,  Rev.  John  E.  Robie,  formerly  editor  of  the  Buffalo  Christian 
Advocate,  was  commissioned  as  Chaplain,  and  soon  after  entered 
upon  his  duties.  Here  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  one  of 
the  officers,  June  roth  : 

"Yesterday  being  Sunday,  we  all  assembled  on  the  parade 
ground  at  10^  A.  M.,  to  hear  Rev.  John  E.  Robie  for  the  first  time. 
He  read  the  Episcopal  service,  and  delivered  an  excellent  sermon. 
Although  it  was  scorching  hot,  the  boys  listened  to  him  with  great 
interest.  He  has  at  once  become  a  great  favorite  with  both  officers 
and  men. 

"  To-day  we  received  our  knapsacks,  &c.  Everything  is  here, 
and  we  will  be  fully  equipped  to-morrow.  The  boys  all  look  well, 
are  in  the  best  of  spirits,  and  all  anxious  to  get  farther  South.  We 

*  A  cartridge  with  the  old  round  ounce  ball  and  three  buckshot. 


52  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

have  no  idea  when  we  will  leave.    It  may  be  in  a  few  days.    Some  seem 
to  think  that  we  will  go  into  camp,  and  there  remain  until  next  fall. 

"This  I  hope  is  not  so.  We  started  in  to  do  our  country  some 
service,  and  are  all  anxious  to  get  at  it  soon.  Our  regiment  is  better 
prepared  at  the  present  moment  to  go  into  the  field  than  any  regi 
ment  that  has  left  Western  New  York.  We  have  not  seen  the  pay 
master  around  yet,  but  live  in  hopes.  The  boys  are  all  well." 

The  citizens  of  Buffalo  did  not  cease  to  take  an  active  interest 
in  our  welfare  after  we  were  in  a  measure  out  of  the  sphere  of  their 
immediate  influence.  The  old  axiom  "  out  of  sight,  out  of  mind," 
did  not  hold  good  in  our  case. 

Parties  of  ladies  were  constantly  visiting  our  camp  with  their 
donations  for  the  comfort  of  the  men. 

At  one  time  they  supplied  the  entire  regiment  with  neatly- 
made  Havelocks,  and  the  variety  of  other  articles  from  the  same 
generous  source  was  too  numerous  to  mention.  We  will  give  a 
place  here  to  some  of  the  acknowledgments  published  at  the  time. 

Says  a  member  of  the  regiment  in  a  letter  to  the  Buffalo 
Courier :  "  I  consider  it  the  duty  of  some  one  to  tender  our  grate 
ful  acknowledgments  to  the  ladies  for  the  interest  manifested  by 
them  in  our  welfare.  Ladies  of  Buffalo,  we  will  bear  you  in  ever 
lasting  remembrance,  and  try  to  do  our  duty  as  soldiers, — to  the 
killing  of  Jeff.  Davis,  if  possible. 

The  following  acknowledgment  was  signed  by  the  entire  com 
pany  : 

KI.MIKA,  May  13111,   1861, 

The  officers  and  members  of  Company  "  G,"  of  the  Buffalo  Regiment  of  Volun 
teers,  would  tender  their  sincere  thanks  to  all  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  Buffalo 
who  so  kindly  assisted  them  in  organizing  an  efficient  company,  by  donating  to  them 
articles  of  clothing  much  needed  by  the  men  ;  to  Mr.  Kldridge,  the  generous  pro 
prietor  of  the  Franklin  House,  for  the  large  box  of  eatables  gratuitously  furnished  by 
him,  and  which  we  can  assure  him  were  more  than  welcome;  to  Mr.  J.  S.  Wilcox 
for  the  abundant  supply  of  provisions  furnished  us  by  him  on  the  cars,  and  to  compli 
ment  him  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  Wayland,  on  the  very  able  manner  in  which  they 
discharged  their  duty  as  far  as  concerned  our  company.  .  To  the  friends  of  the 
members  at  home,  we  are  happy  to  say  that  the  men  are  well  and  in  good  spirits. 

E.   L.    LEE,   Captain. 
DAN.  MYKRS,  Jr.,  isl  Lieut. 

And  the  next  was  signed  by  the  officers  of  the  meeting : 

ELMIRA,  May  2oth,   i86r. 

A  delegation  of  three  members  from  each  company  of  the  regiment  assembled 
this  evening  at  the  quarters  of  Co.  "  F,"  for  the  purpose  of  drafting  resolutions 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  53 

expressing  the  deep  and  heartfelt  gratitude  of  its  members  to  Alderman  James 
Adams,  of  the  City  of  Buffalo,  for  his  untiring  exertions  in  their  behalf,  and  for  his 
timely  liberality. 

On  motion  of  Sergeant  J.  S.  Bidwell,  seconded  by  Corporal  C.  C.  McCready, 
Sergeant  Byron  Schermerhorn,  of  Co.  "  D,"  was  unanimously  elected  to  the  chair. 

The  following  committee  of  live  was  then  appointed  to  draft  said  resolutions, 
and  report  immediately  after  dinner  next :  Sergeant  McMurray,  Co.  "  F,"  Sergeant 
J.  S.  Bidwell,  Co.  "  G,"  Sergeant  I).  F.  Ilandert,  Co.  "  C,"  Corporal  C.  C.  McCready, 
Co.  "  K,"  William  Collis,  Co.  "  F." 

The  committee  reported  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  every  man  in  this  regiment  are  due,  and  hereby 
tendered  to  Alderman  James  Adams,  of  the  City  of  Buffalo,  for  his  attentive  exertions 
in  our  behalf,  not  only  while  we  were  in  Buffalo,  but  also  while  traveling  and  since 
we  have  been  here;  for  his  instrumentality  in  procuring  so  fine  a  location  for  our 
barracks,  and  for  hastening  on  the  erection  of  the  same  for  our  reception. 

Resolved,  That  thq  hearty  thanks  of  every  member  of  this  regiment  axe.  especially 
due  and  hereby  tendered  to  Alderman  James  Adams,  for  the  timely  and  very  liberal 
donation  of  smoking  and  chewing  tobacco  to  each  and  every  man  of  this  regiment. 

Resolved,  That  whereas  Alderman  James  Adams  is  a  member  of  the  Committee 
for  the  distribution  of  the  fund  appropriated  for  the  relief  of  the  families  of  the  men 
of  this  regiment,  said  men  express  their  confidence  in  being  fairly  dealt  with  while 
having  so  active  and  noble-hearted  a  man  to  look  to  their  welfare. 

The  foregoing  resolutions  being  unanimously  adopted,  it  was  further  resolved 
that  the  same  be  forwarded  to  the  papers  of  Buffalo  for  publication. 

The  following  correspondence  speaks  for  itself: 

lUiKKM.o,  May  3ist,  1861. 
To  Col.  WM.  F.  ROCF.RS,  LiEUT.-CoL.  A.  R.  ROOT,  MAJOR  WM.  II.  DKKW. 

(  IKNTI.KMKN  : — T  send  in  charge  of  the  bearer,  Mr.  Ellsworth,  three  horses  that 
I  have  selected  from  my  stock,  as  being  the  most  suitable  for  military  purposes,  which 
you  will  please  accept  from  your  friend, 

ISAAC  IIOLLOWAY. 

P.  S. — I  hope  they  will  carry  you  nil  victoriously  through  every  battle  you  may 
be  engaged  in. 

I.  IT. 


IlK.ADMUARTKRS  2 1st   RF.GT.   N.  V.   S.  V. 

KI.MIKA,  June  7th,  1861. 
ISAAC  IIoi.i.owAv,  Fso. 

DKAR  SIR: — Your  esteemed  favor  of  the  3ist  ult.,  was  duly  received,  accom 
panied  by  your  munificent  donation  of  three  horses  for  the  field  officers  of  our 
regiment.  We  hardly  know  how  to  express  our  sense  of  your  liberality  and 
patriotism,  as  evinced  in  this  characteristic  act,  and  can  only  say  in  reply,  that  we 
accept  your  gift,  and  thank  you  for  it  from  the  bottom  of  our  hearts.  We  trust  that 


54  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

your  expressed  hope  that  the  horses  may  carry  us  victoriously  through  every  battle  in 
which  we  may  be  engaged,  will  be  realized,  and  that  in  due  time  they  may  carry  us 
back  to  our  homes,  to  thank  you  in  person  for  your  kindness. 
We  remain,  with  esteem  and  respect, 

Your  obed't  servants, 

WM.  F.  ROGERS,  Colonel. 
ADRIAN  R.  ROOT,  Lieut. -Col. 
WM.  II.  DREW,  Major. 

And  so  docs  this  : 

BUFFALO,  June  6th,  i86r. 
COL.  WM.  F.  ROGERS,  TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. 

DEAR  SIR  : — The  undersigned  beg  leave  to  request  your  acceptance  of  the  horse 
and  equipments  which  have  been  forwarded  to  you  at  Elmira.  We  trust  you  will  find 
him  a  serviceable  animal,  and  that  he  will  bear  you  safely  through  all  the  fatigues  and 
dangers  of  the  campaign  upon  which  you  are  entering.  Rest  assured  that  the  kind 
wishes  of  many  friends  attend  you  in  your  responsible  position,  and  that  the  citixens 
of  Buffalo  have  the  fullest  confidence  in  you,  both  as  a  man  and  a  soldier. 

Respectfully,  your  obed't  servants, 

DEAN  RICHMOND,  HENRY  W.  ROGERS, 

I).  I).  Bi  DWELL,  S.  G.  HAVEN, 

Ei  AVAR i >  S.  WARREN,  PRATT  &  Co. 

WILLIAM  G.  FARGO,  JOHN  GANSON, 

JULIUS  Movius,  E.  G.  SPAULDING, 

R.  II.  COLIUIRN,  WARREN  BRYANT, 

GIKSON  T.  WILLIAMS,  A.  J.  RICH, 

JAS.  M.  HUMPHREY,  WM.  WILLIAMS, 

JOHN  T.  HUDSON,  J.  B.  Dunois, 

F.  J.  FITHIAN,  JOSEPH  WARREN, 

HENRY  MARTIN. 


HEADQUARTERS  2ist  REGT.  N.  Y.  S.  V. 

ELMIRA,  June  yth,  1861. 
MESSRS.  DEAN  RICHMOND,  D.  D.  Bi  DWELL,  EDW'D  S.  WARREN,  WM.  G.  FARGO, 

AND  OTHERS. 

GENTLEMEN  : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communi 
cation  of  the  6lh  instant,  requesting  my  acceptance  of  the  horse  and  equipments 
forwarded  to  this  place.  I  accept  them  with  favor  and  gratitude,  and  am  glad  to 
find  the  horse  promises  to  be  a  most  serviceable  animal,  and  is  quite  at  home  in  the 
exciting  scenes  of  the  camp.  For  the  very  nattering  terms  in  which  you  have  been 
pleased  to  speak  of  me  personally,  accept  my  heartfelt  thanks.  The  position  in 
which  I  have  been  unexpectedly  placed,  is  certainly  one  of  great  responsibility;  and 
he  knowledge  that  my  fellow  citizens  will  watch  the  progress  of  the  regiment  in  the 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  55 

campaign  we  are  about  to  enter,  will,  I  hope,  enable  me  to  fully  appreciate  it.  That 
your  liberality  and  attachment  are  not  misplaced,  is  my  sincere  wish,  and  shall  be  the 
object  of  my  endeavors. 

With  sentiments  of  the  highest  esteem, 
I  remain,  gentlemen, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

WM.  F.  ROGERS, 

Col.  2ist  N.  Y.  S.  Vol. 


One  night, —  it  was  the  loth  of  June, — just  after  receiving  our 
arms  and  equipments,  the  officers  took  it  into  their  heads  to  give  us 
an  alarm,  just  to  try  our  quickness  in  getting  into  line, —  a  sham 
alarm  of  course,  but  a  very  good  test,  as  such  a  thing  was  totally 
unexpected.  Of  course  we  were  all  aware  that  no  enemy  could  be 
nearer  than  a  few  thousand  miles ;  but  waking  from  a  sound  sleep  at 
midnight,  to  hear  the  warning  roll  of  drums,  men  around  you 
struggling  into  their  clothes,  lines  forming,  the  flashing  and  clanging 
of  arms,  the  quick  sharp  commands,  and  all  glare,  hubbub,  and 
excitement,  where  but  a  moment  before  was  darkness,  calm  and 
slumber,  are  apt  to  induce  any  quantity  of  excited  conjecture,  and 
any  belief,  no  matter  how  improbable,  is  impressed  upon  the 
bewildered  brain  with  all  the  vivid  distinctness  of  startling  reality. 

Our  drill  that  day  had  been  unusually  severe,  and  all  had 
turned  in  early.  We  expected  soon  to  leave  for  the  fighting  ground 
of  Virginia  —  perhaps  in  a  day  or  two,  —  and  knew  not  how  short 
might  be  our  time  for  rest.  The  amount  of  cat-calling,  cawing, 
crowing,  and  ventriloqual  practice  generally,  after  taps  that  night, 
had  been  unusually  small,  and  now,  at  one  o'clock,  all  were  wrapped 
in  their  blankets  and  "sweet  forgetfulness,"  and  only  a  sturdy  snore 
here  and  there  attested  the  supremacy  of  the  drowsy  god  ;  but 

"  Linden  saw  another  sight 
When  the  drum  beat  at  dead  of  night." 

There  was  the  sharp  crack  of  two  or  three  muskets,  and  then, 
on  the  stillness  of  the  night,  rattled  out  the  warning  cadence  of  the 
"  long  roll."  Reader  did  you  ever  stir  up  a  hornet's  nest,  and  see 
the  indignant  garrison  rally  with  angry  hum  to  investigate  the 
intrusion  ?  Just  so  the  startled  Buffaloes  swarmed  out  of  their 
barracks.  The  Adjutant  was  already  on  the  parade  ground,  and  so 
were  the  rest  of  the  field  and  staff;  and  in  ten  minutes  our  line  was 
formed,  not  a  man  missing,  everything  ready,  and  all  agape  for  the 


56  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

next  movement.  Wide  and  various  were  the  surmises  and  conject 
ures  whispered  along  the  ranks  as  to  the  probable  cause  of  the 
alarm  Some  thought  there  must  be  a  mutiny  in  some  other 
barracks ;  others  that  our  marching-  orders  had  come,  and  in  five 
minutes  more  we  should  be  on  our  way  to  "Dixie;"  and  more 
didn't  know  what  to  think,  but  were  ready  for  anything'.  But.  in  a 
moment  the  clear  ringing  voice  of  our  Colonel  called  us  to 
"attention."  Me  said  that  he  was  much  pleased  with  our  alacrity 
in  forming,  that  he  hoped  we  would  always  be  as  ready  for  a  real 
alarm,  and  that  we  might  now  return  to  our  quarters. 

So  we  went,  back,  some  tierce  and  sleepy,  and  others  well 
satisfied  that  it  was  nothing  more.  All  were  jolly  enough  however, 
when  the  lanterns  in  the  barracks  revealed  the  queer  mistakes  some 
had  made  in  their  haste  to  fall  in. 

"  You've  got  my  pants,"  says  a  little  fellow  in  his  drawers  to  a 
six-footer.  "  That's  so,"  is  the  astonished  reply,  as  the  latter  looks 
clown  at  about  eighteen  inches  of  exposed  "calf."  "I  thought  my 
legs  were  mighty  cold." 

Another  had  his  haversack  instead  of  his  cartridge  box,  and 
turned  it  off  by  declaring  that  he'd  rather  eat  than  fight  any  time, 
and  was  voted  "sensible."  Others  had  reversed  things  generally 
in  "  getting  into  harness,"  or  had  left  half  their  clothes  behind  in 
their  haste,  and  one  fellow  wore  as  his  only  article  of  outer  apparel, 
a  pair  of  immense  boots. 

On  Saturday,  June  i5th,  we  had  our  first  hard  march.  Since 
receiving  their  knapsacks,  the  boys  had  been  learning  to  pack  them 
properly,  but  many  were  ambitious  of  carrying  more  than  they 
ought.  A  recruit,  leaving  home  for  perhaps  the  first  time,  usually 
has  a  small  trunk  full  of  keepsakes  and  notions,  which  he  can't  be 
persuaded  to  leave  behind,  and  which  nothing  short  of  a  half  day's 
trial  will  convince  him  he  cannot  carry.  About  mid-day  on  his  first 
march  you  will  see  him  "  going  through  "  his  knapsack,  and  cutting 
down  his  burden  to  the  last  dispensable  half  ounce. 

He  will  even  look  hard  at  the  Bible  his  mother,  perhaps,  gave 
him,  and  "  wish  it  was  a  testament,  and  the  big  pearl-handled  sheath- 
knife  he  was  so  proud  of  the  day  before,  is  thrown  aside  with  his 
toilet  case  and  portable  writing  desk. 

I  have  seen  men  by  the  road  side  tearing  up  their  treasured 
letters ;  reserving  perhaps  a  few  of  the  last  to  read  once  more,  and 
burning  the  rest  to  lighten  their  load  ;  and  I  have  seen  them  pull  off 
the  brass  plates  that  decorate  their  belts,  for  the  same  reason. 


TWENTY- FIRST     REGIMENT.  57 

A  knapsack,  to  contain  everything  the  soldier  must  carry  there, 
need  not  weigh  over  eighteen  pounds,  and  if  properly  packed  and 
slung,  can  be  carried  very  comfortably.  Experience  teaches  him  to 
get  the  weight  as  high  as  possible  on  his  shoulders,  and  then,  by 
leaning  slightly  forward,  to  bring  it  directly  over  the  centre  of 
gravity,  he  avoids  that  backward  strain  on  the  shoulders  and  chest, 
which  is  so  terribly  fatiguing.  To  do  this,  he  packs  it  snugly  and 
squarely  as  possible,  and  passes  the  shoulder-straps  through  those 
which  hold  the  overcoat,  drawing  the  latter  forward  upon  the  neck. 

All  this  we  had  yet  to  learn,  forgetting  that  we  had  better  begin 
with  as  light  a  load  as  possible  until  accustomed  to  the  thing.  We 
had  not  only  packed  our  blankets,  overcoats,  under-clothing,  &c., 
but  nearly  all  had  stuffed  in  an  assortment  of  books,  writing  material, 
mending  apparatus,  such  as  skeins  of  different  threads,  boxes  of 
buttons,  papers  of  pins  and  needles,  and  all  the  fierce  array  of 
knives,  pistols,  &c.,  which  the  raw  soldier  so  delights  in  displaying, 
so  that  few  of  our  "packs"  weighed  less  than  twenty-five  pounds, 
added  to  these  were  the  belts,  cartridge  box,  canteen,  haversack, 
bayonet,  and  musket,  the  latter  weighing  thirteen  pounds. 

Thus  equipped  we  fell  in  at  two  o'clock,  and  were  marched 
about  four  and  a  half  miles,  at  quick  time,  through  the  streets  of 
Elmira.  The  clay  was  very  warm,  and  the  roads  intolerably  dusty, 
so  that  at  times  one  could  hardly  see  the  second  man  in  front. 
Every  corpulent  knapsack  dragged  persistently  back,  giving  one 
unpleasant  ideas  of  overlapping  shoulder-blades  and  incipient  spine 
disease,  and,  together  with  the  dust,  giving  each  an  uncomfortable 
choking  look  as  he  tugged  along,  the  cords  in  his  neck  painfully 
apparent,  and  his  eyes  straining  from  their  sockets. 

When  we  got  back  to  camp  we  were  about  as  hard  looking  a 
set  of  fellows  as  one  often  sees.  The  dust  had  settled  so  thickly  on 
us  that  we  were  of  a  color  from  head  to  foot,  except  when  the  sweat 
had  dropped  from  our  faces  upon  our  belts  and  jackets.  As  far  as 
our  powers  of  endurance  were  concerned,  the  test  must  have  been 
satisfactory,  for  a  few  old  soldiers  who  were  in  the  ranks  declared 
they  had  never  experienced  so  much  fatigue  in  so  short  a  time. 
Only  one  man  fell  out,  and  he  was  immediately  taken  care  of  by  the 
Surgeon. 

That  was  about  the  last  of  our  pack-horse  experiments,  and 
every  man  who  had  to  carry  a  knapsack  immediately  reduced  it  to 
the  least  possible  weight. 


58  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

On  Friday,  the  i4th  day  of  June,  Gen.  Van  Valkenburg 
received  the  following  order  from  Albany : 

Direct  Col.  Rogers,  2ist  Regiment,  to  be  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service  for 
two  years,  and  that  he  then  proceed  with  his  command  immediately  to  Washington, 
via  llarrisburg,  reporting  at  the  latter  place  to  Gen.  Patterson.  This  by  order  of 
Secretary  of  War. 

J.  W.  REID,  JR., 

Adjutant  General. 

This  order,  being  rather  unexpected,  was  none  the  less  welcome, 
and  immediately  the  camp  stirred  with  new  life,  and  the  croakers 
who  had  prognosticated  a  long  summer  and  winter  in  camp  at  home, 
incontinently  "  dried  up,"  and  made  themselves  busy  with  the  rest. 
First,  every  man  set  about  putting  his  arms  in  complete  order,  that 
they  might  be  in  trim  when  wanted.  A  snapping  of  percussion  caps 
and  ringing  of  rammers,  always  a  note  of  preparation  for  duty, 
resounded  through  the  camp,  and  everywhere  might  be  seen  busy 
fellows  scouring  away  at  barrels  and  bayonets,  putting  on  a  polish 
that  would  make  them  look  as  formidable  as  possible. 

When  this  was  done,  and  the  knapsack  had  been  overhauled  to 
make  sure  that  his  outfit  was  in  good  order,  and  everything  fixed  up 
to  the  last  degree  of  neatness  and  usefulness,  each  one  took  to  his 
bunk  or  some  secure  and  shady  spot  outside,  and  with  portfolio  on 
his  knee,  proceeded  to  "inform  a  large  circle  of  anxious  friends  that 
the  Twenty-First  Regiment  had  been  ordered  to  the  seat  of  war. 

About  this  time  the  barrack  fronts  broke  out  into  such  eruptions 
as  the  following : 

"  To  LET. — Rent  payable  after  July  ist,  at  the  Headquarters 
of  the  2ist  Regiment,  Montgomery,  Alabama,  or  Charleston.  S.  C. 
For  further  particulars,  inquire  of  Capt.  H.  G.  Thomas,  Co.  I,  2ist 
Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  V." 

"NOTICE. — In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  2ist  Regiment  is 
ordered  South,  the  reward  of  $5,000  for  the  head  of  Jeff.  Davis  is 
reduced  to  one  cent." 

Says  a  correspondent,  writing  from  Elmira  :  "  Those  were  not 
the  only  evidences  of  approaching  departure.  A  general  gayety 
among  the  men ;  an  immense  proclivity  to  letter  writing,  and 
anxious  inquiries  at  the  post-office  for  letters  with  small-hand  super 
scriptions  ;  the  gathering  at  Elmira  of  many  Buffalonians,  and  a 
constant  bustle  about  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment,  gave  proof 
that  the  gallant  Twenty-First  was  on  the  wing." 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  59 

Next  day  (Sunday)  it  rained,  and  our  devotional  exercises  were 
held  in  the  mess-house.  We  knew  it  was  our  last  Sabbath  in 
Elmira,  the  last  many  of  us  would  pass  with  the  friends  who  had 
come  from  home  to  be  with  us  until  our  departure.  On  this  day 
we  dispensed  with  the  usual  parade  for  services,  and  the  boys  and 
their  friends  sat  together  where  they  pleased.  A  gloom  seemed  to 
weigh  upon  the  spirits  of  all,  and  each  face  wore  an  expression  of 
subdued  sadness,  a  premonition  of  the  possible  future,  in  unison 
with  the  dim  lowering  sky,  the  misty  horizon,  the  soft  monotonous 
patter  of  the  rain  —  drops  of  which  came  through  the  roof  and  fell 
like  tears  upon  us  —  broken  only  by  the  deep  solemn  voice  of  the 
Chaplain,  while  over  us  the  evergreen  decorations  drooped  like 
funereal  plumes. 

But  under  all  this,  in  each  soul  was  a  depth  of  fervid  devotion 
unfelt  before ;  a  deep,  calm  reliance  upon  the  justice  of  the  cause 
which  now  called  us  from  all  we  Jield  dear ;  a  trust  that  should  this 
indeed  be  the  last  time  on  earth  for  us  to  join  these  friends  in 
Christian  worship,  the  sacrifice  we  were  thus  making  would  add  to 
the  joy  and  glory  of  a  re-union  where  wars  are  no  more. 

And  when  our  choir  sang  that  grand  old  anthem  of  the  free,  in 
which  we  all  joined,  while  Cramer's  band  pealed  its  richest  from 
the  temporary  organ  loft,  though  no  grained  roof  above  us  gathered 
and  re-echoed  in  increased  volume  the  the  soul-stirring  strain,  there 
was  no  want  of  grandeur  in  the  emotions  thus  inspired — 

Long  may  our  land  be  bright 
With  Freedom's  holy  light, 
Protect  us  by  thy  might, 
Great  (Joel,  our  King. 

The  next  clay  our  visitors  were  increased  by  numerous  arrivals 
from  Buffalo.  Among  them  we  welcomed  Hose  2,  in  full  gala  rig, 
with  their  Carriage,  come  down  to  see  us  ofif.  Nearly  every  boy  in 
camp  greeted  some  old  friend  who  wras  to  gladden  his  remaining 
hours  and  receive  the  last  farewell. 

For  some  time  past  only  three  men  from  each  company  were 
allowed  to  leave  camp  on  any  one  day,  but  on  Monday  the  rule  was 
relaxed,  and  the  gray  jackets  of  the  Buffalo  boys  were  everywhere 
on  the  streets.  Hundreds  of  them  had  made  so  many  acquaint 
ances  in  the  town,  that  it  seemed  like  home  to  them;  while  on  the 
part  of  the  Elmira  people,  there  had  been  such  uniform  kindness 


60  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

and  courtesy,  and  so  much  of  genuine  hospitality,  that  the  departure 
on  Tuesday  was  rendered  a  most  painful  separation. 

The  ladies  of  the  village,  especially,  "  gave  signs  of  woe,"  and 
there  were  manifestations  of  respect  which  did  credit  to  both  parties. 
Our  Buffalo  boys  have  been  orderly,  gentlemanly  and  cordial 
toward  the  citizens,  and  the  latter  have  reciprocated  in  every 
possible  way.  That  Monday  night  was  decidedly  a  jolly  night  in 
the  camp.  The  Rogers  Rangers  were  out  in  full  force,  with  entirely 
new  evolutions,  commanded  by  Col.  Colton,  on  crutches.  His  staff 
consisted  of  all  the  cripples  in  the  regiment,  and  the  shortest  haired 
ones  had  the  preference  in  the  ranks.  Gen.  Van  Valkenburg  was 
present,  as  were  also  a  large  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  who 
were  in  ecstacies  of  fun  at  the  ridiculous  travesties  of  this  comic 
troupe  of  first-class  artists. 

The  departure  on  Tuesday  is  thus  reported  by  Mr.  Faxon  : 

Notwithstanding  the  numerous  tickets  of  leave,  there  was  no  difficulty  in  getting 
the  men  together  on  Tuesday  morning.  The  companies  turned  out  with  full  ranks 
and  no  stragglers.  And  this  is  as  good  a  place  as  any  to  say  that  all  stories  about 
dissatisfaction  in  the  regiment  as  to  their  term  of  service,  are  mere  humbug.  One 
hears  nothing  at  all  of  them  at  Elmira.  Col.  Rogers  will  protect  the  interests  of  the 
regiment,  and  the  men  throw  all  the  care  on  him.  Where  he  leads  they  will  follow  ; 
and  the  farther  South  he  goes,  the  better  pleased  will  they  be. 

The  camp  on  Tuesday  morning  presented  a  busy  scene.  The  boys  had  break 
fast  early,  and  had  stripped  the  dining  room  of  the  floral  decorations  which  the 
contractor  had  placed  there  in  honor  of  their  last  meal.  Festoons  of  evergreens, 
intermingled  with  bouquets,  had  been  hung  about,  and  the  boys  transferred  the 
bouquets  to  the  mu/zles  of  their  muskets.  Besides  these,  many  of  the  men  had 
bouquets  from  the  ladies  of  Elmira,  and  when  the  line  was  formed,  it  looked  like  a 
long  flower  bed. 

There  was  not  much  hurrying.  The  men  had  ample  time  to  "  get  a  good 
ready,"  and  for  conversation  and  last  words  with  their  friends  from  Buffalo.  And 
here  was  the  hard  part  of  it.  It  was  sorrowful  enough  to  see  the  wives,  daughters 
and  sisters  of  the  officers  and  men,  trying  to  be  cheerful,  and  bestowing  on  their 
loved  ones  some  last  little  gift, —  a  miniature,  a  bouquet,  or  some  little  article  of  use. 
And  then,  too,  mere  friendship  among  stout-hearted  men,  had  its  pangs.  There  was 
many  a  hearty  "  Cod  bless  you,"  many  a  long  shake  of  the  hand,  with  wet  eyes 
looking  on,  and  many  a  pocket-book  was  emptied,  by  way  of  a  last  kind  act.  The 
men  had  not  been  paid  off,  and  the  visiting  Buffalonians  lent  and  gave  all  the  money 
they  had  to  spare.  All  had  some  friend,  to  whom  a  present  of  a  dollar  or  two  was 
most  acceptable,  and,  to  the  credit  of  both  parties  be  it  said,  there  was  no  begging. 
The  visitors  volunteered  their  aid,  and  said  they  couldn't  help  it. 

One  of  the  most  active  among  the  officers  was  Dr.  Wilcox.  As  Surgeon  of  the 
regiment,  he  watches  carefully  everything  that  affects  the  health  of  the  men,  and  is 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  6l 

untiring  in  his  efforts.  The  many  duties  thrown  on  (Quartermaster  Clinton  were 
divided  with  Dr.  Wilcox,  and  the  latter  was  able  to  say  when  the  line  was  formed, 
that  every  man  had  his  rations  in  his  haversack.  At  the  cars,  the  Doctor  was  equally 
efficient.  Acting  as  conductor,  he  would  not  let  the  train  leave  until  every  man  was 
provided  with  a  seat,  and  it  followed  that  instead  of  being  packed  in  freight  cars, 
like  herrings,  as  was  the  case  with  other  regiments,  Buffalo  went  off  comfortably-  in 
good  passenger  cars,  of  which  eighteen  were  provided. 

The  camp  was  broken  up  at  9  A.  M.  Everything  was  packed,  knapsacks 
slung,  the  roll  called,  and  one  by  one  the  ten  companies  took  their  places  in  the  long 
line,  and  were  inspected  by  Col.  Rogers.  At  this  time  the  parade  ground  was 
crowded  with  people,  among  whom  were  a  number  of  the  officers  of  other  regiments, 
and  a  very  large  proportion  of  ladies.  The  regiment  never  looked  better,  and  all 
were  loud  in  their  praises  of  their  appearance  and  soldierly  bearing.  At  a  few 
minutes  after  10,  the  regiment  formed  in  hollow  square,  and  while  in  this  position 
received  "  three  times  three  "  from  the  Oswego  regiment,  who  occupied  the  cam]) 
adjoining,  and  who  were  drawn  up  in  line  to  witness  the  departure  of  the  Buffalo 
boys.  The  Buffaloes  returned  the  compliment  by  giving  three  cheers  for  them,  and 
continued  the  ovation  by  giving  three  cheers  for  the  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  three  cheers 
for  their  friends  in  Elmira,  and  concluded  by  three  monster  yells  and  cheers  for  the 

ladies  of  Klmira. 

y 

Eagle  Hose  Co.,  No.  2,  11.  II.  Clapp,  foreman,  then  passed  in  front  to  the  right 
of  the  line,  where  they  had  the  post  of  honor.  It  was  much  lo  be  regretted  that  this 
escort,  elegant  and  appropriate  as  it  was,  could  not  have  been  swelled  by  other 
organizations  from  this  city.  Probably  two  hundred  Uuffalonians,  ladies  and  gentle 
men,  were  there,  but  Eagle  Hose  was  the  only  formed  escort.  Vet  it  was  remarked 
in  Elmira,  that  Buffalo  exhibited  more  care  and  affection  for  its  regiment  than  any 
other  city. 

The  Union  Cornet  Band  was  on  hand,  having  volunteered  its  services  gratuit 
ously.  Its  familiar  music  was  a  great  accession  to  the  parade,  and  all  felt  under 
obligations  to  the  Band  for  this  generous  act  of  courtesy. 

Immediately  after,  the  regiment  marched  by  the  flank  out  at  the  central  gate,  and 
after  getting  into  the  road,  formed  in  column  by  companies,  the  procession  being  in 
the  following  order : 

The  Union  Cornet  Band  led  the  van,  followed  by  the  Drum  Corps  of  the 
regiment. 

Next  came  Eagle  Hose  2's  Carriage,  elegantly  adorned  with  beautiful  silk  flags, 
wreathed  with  evergreens  and  flowers  intermixed,  bouquets  of  (lowers,  and  portraits 
of  all  the  members  of  the  Company,  who  had  joined  the  Twenty-First.  The 
following  were  in  uniform  and  drew  the  Hose  Carriage:  II.  1 1.  Clapp,  Foreman ; 
Oscar  T.  Flint,  Assistant  Foreman  ;  Edw'd  Henderson,  Treasurer;  John  C.  Maloney, 
R.  II.  Kuper,  Chas.  F.  Gardner,  P.  J.  Watts,  Kufus  Wheeler,  Jr.,  P.  J.  Hannour, 
W.  Kinnear,  S.  J.  Kuhn,  John  E.  Lasher,  Wm.  Beyer,  I).  J.  Lockwood,  Ed.  Page, 
Everett  L.  Baker,  A.  McLeish,  M.  Wagner. 

Col.  Rogers  at  the  head  of  the  Regiment,  on  foot;  Lieut. -Col.  Root,  Major 
Drew,  Surgeon  Wilcox,  Assistant  Surgeon  Peters. 


62  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

CAPT.  LAYTON — Company  "  K  " —  77  men. 
CAPT.  LEE — Company  "G" — 77  men. 
CAPT.  STRONG — Company  "K" — 75  men. 
CAPT.  GARDNER — Company  "A" — 77  men. 
CAPT.  THOMAS — Company  "  T  " —  76  men. 
CAPT.  GAYLORD — Company  "  I>" — 76  men. 
CAPT.  CLINTON — Company  "  F  " —  78  men. 
CAPT.  WASHBURN — Company  "C  "  —  77  men. 
CAPT.  ALBKRGER — Company  "  I)"— 77  men. 
CAPT.  HAYWARD — Company  "  II  " —  78  men. 

After  the  regiment  had  accomplished  half  the  distance  between  the  camp  and 
the  town,  they  received  an  unexpected  salute  from  the  Union  Regiment,  which  was 
drawn  up  on  both  sides  of  the  road  for  that  purpose.  The  salute  was  returned,  and 
the  regiment  passed  on,  and  down  to  the  depot,  where  thousands  of  people  had 
assembled  to  witness  their  departure. 

Eighteen  cars — first-class  passenger  cars,  with  one  stable  car,  for  horses,  two 
baggage  cars,  and  two  locomotives  —  were  in  line  for  their  reception.  There  were 
hundreds  and  hundreds  of  ladies  crowding  the  streets,  the  sidewalks  and  the 
balconies,  swarming  on  the  platforms,  hiving  in  the  doors  and  windows  of  the  hotels. 
Men  were  everywhere,  and  there  was  an  apparent  sadness  on  every  face,  at  the 
anticipated  parting  soon  to  take  place. 

Wives,  with  their  arms  around  their  husbands'  necks,  sobbed  farewells,  went  off, 
and  then  returned  to  sob  and  weep  anew.  Mothers  bade  their  sons  many  tearful 
adieus,  with  that  sorrowful  sinking  of  the  heart  which  accompanies  the  anticipations 
of  real  dangers;  sisters  wept  sorely,  and  hung  fondly  on  the  necks  of  their  brave 
brothers,  who  were  going  to  fight  for  the  flag,  and  if  necessary,  die  in  the  defence  of 
its  integrity  and  purity,  and  many  strong  men  who  had  not  relatives  in  the  regiment, 
stood  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  and  great  unswallowable  globoses  in  their  throats, 
sympathizing  with  all. 

In  the  midst  of  this  scene,  so  full  of  life,  love,  hopes,  fears  and  anxiety,  the 
Union  Cornet  Band,  led  by  Cramer,  was  playing  its  brilliantest !  Walter  Gibson, 
Oberist  and  others,  were  singing  musical  adieus;  guns  were  firing,  and  flags  waving 
from  every  possible  or  impossible  altitude,  men  were  cheering,  handkerchiefs  were 
waving,  drums  were  sounding,  and  all  was  apparent  confusion.  But  out  of  the  nettle 
disorder,  they  plucked  the  rose  of  order.  All  were  got  aboard  the  cars  —  the  officers 
taking  the  forward  car —  and  precisely  at  half-past  eleven  the  train  started. 

It  bore  off  a  regiment,  renowned  for  its  military  misfortunes,  but  which  had  been 
taught  by  delays  upon  delays,  to  realize  at  last  that  there  was  still  "  balm  in  Gilead," 
and  which  believed  more  in  active  gun-shot,  sabre  or  bayonet  wounds,  than  in  the 
torpid  life  of  camp — so  listless  and  apparently  objectless. 

As  they  passed  up  the  railroad,  all  the  way  to  the  bridge,  the  Union  Cornet 
Band  played  its  liveliest  and  best,  the  streets  were  black  with  people,  and  cheer  npon 
cheer  broke  from  their  lips  as  the  cars  passed,  and  answered  by  the  "  boys  "  with 
such  a  fervor  as  showed  that  they  appreciated  the  compliment,  and  were  grateful 
for  it. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  63 

And  so  they  went,  followed  by  the  prayers  and  blessings  of  thousands,  who  will 
watch  for  their  return  with  anxious  hearts  and  aching  bosoms.  May  they  glorify 
Buffalo  and  themselves  by  their  good  conduct  in  the  light,  and  all  live  to  come  back 
to  their  homes  crowned  with  well  earned  laurels. 

A  large  number  of  Buffalo  people  are  here.  Among  them  I  notice  Judge 
Houghton  and  wife,  who  have  an  only  son  in  the  regiment;  Dr.  8.  B.  Hunt,  Kd.  L. 
Ferris,  Asaph  Bemis,^.  M.  Clapp,  Mayor  Alberger,  Milton  Randall,  Alon/.o  Tanner, 
Chas.  Rosseel,  Dr.  J.  S.  Trowbridge,  Major  Cook,  John  Wilkeson,  II.  T.  Gillett  and 
wife,  and  many  others,  all  here  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  the  boys  off,  and  sharing  in 
the  regret  at  their  departure. 

The  camp  is  a  desolation  now — no  song,  no  music,  no  enjoyment — all 
solemnly  still,  and  painfully  <[iiiet.  The  McSwattigans  have  departed,  and  the 
Zouaves  no  more  make  merry  the  quarters;  the  Siniggy  McGlurals  are  gone,  and  the 
camp  no  more  echoes  to  their  epidemic  waggery;  the  Rogers  Rangers  have  fled,  and 
the  new  drill  has  disappeared,  and  will  be  unpublished  forever.  Red  tape  has  failed 
at  last,  and  our  regiment  will  have  an  opportunity  of  distinguishing  itself.  So  mote 
it  be.  II.  W.  FAXON. 

P.  S.  —  I  had  almost  forgotten  to  mention  that  the  Fire  Department  of  Klmira 
paid  Hose  2's  boys  all  the  honors;  received  them  at  the  depot,  escorted  them  to 
camp,  and  housed  their  splendid  Carriage.  To-day  they  invited  them  to  dinner  at 
the  Brainard  House,  where  they  had  a  glorious  time.  The  Flmira  boys  concluded 
their  attentions  by  escorting  our  boys  to  the  depot,  and  saluted  them  as  they  departed 
with  three  cheers,  ending  with  a  violently  affectionate  "tiger."  H.  W.  F. 

Thus  ends  our  probation.  Speeding  on  over  hill,  valley  and 
stream,  in  the  bright  summer  morning,  the  capital,  our  destination, 
only  a  day  ahead,  and  with  a  prospeet  of  speedy  service  and  plenty 
of  it,  why  should  we  not  think  our  disappointments  ended  at  last  ? 
Were  the  future  not  a  sealed  book,  how  few  would  enjoy  the 
present ! 

ORIGINAL    COMPANY    ROLLS. 

The  following  rolls  are  copied  from  those  upon  which  we 
received  our  first  pay,  and  include  the  names  of  all  those  mustered 
into  the  State  service  : 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 

Sergeant- Major — George  M.  Love;  (Quartermaster  Sergeant — P.  C.  Doyle; 
Hospital  Steward — Win.  C.  Gould;  Commissary  Sergeant — Clark  Dodge;  Drum 
Major — David  Scott;  Fife  Major — Joseph  II.  Zrenner. 


COMPANY  "  K." 
Captain— JOHN  M.  LAYTON. 
ist  Lieutenant — AUGUSTUS  N.  GILI.KTT. 
2d  Lieutenant — JOHN  NICHOLSON. 

ist    Sergeant — James    Falls;     2d     Sergeant — Joseph     Negus:      jcl    Sergeant — 
Joseph  Remick;    4th    Sergeant — James  R.  Wilson.        ist  Corporal — Jam^s  Blood  - 


64  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

2cl  Corporal — Joseph  Reed;  3<1  Corporal — James  A.  Mills;  4th  Corporal — 
William  Hamilton.  Musicians  —  John  ().  Nelson  and  Andrew  L.  Whipple. 
Privates — Elisha  R.  Ames,  Conrad  Albis,  Joseph  Alexander,  Peter  Bowhart,  John 
Bell,  Robert  Buerger,  Hartley  Bettinger,  Royal  Colby,  Cornelius  Cunningham,  Alfred 
B.  Darlfng,  John  Dow,  Alfred  Dowling,  August  Du  Press,  Frederick  Diehl,  James 
Duyer,  John  Eisenberger,  Thomas  Fllis,  Ignatus  Gauloff,  Witgam  Hyer,  George 
Hurley,  John  Howard,  Frank  Henry,  William  Hayden,  John  Ilelfinger,  James 
Harrison,  James  Hurley,  Winslow  Heniger,  Frank  [enkins,  Henry  Johnson,  Fred. 
King,  Patrick  Kelly,  Charles  Koulm,  Christopher  King,  William  Lessick,  Joseph 
Lee,  Patrick  J.  McLaughlin,  Luke  Mitchell,  Patrick  Mahony,  Joseph  Miller,  John 
H.  Mathews,  Philip  Mallion,  Edward  Mone,  Alfred  May,  James  P.  McKane,  John 
Munro,  Charles  Morian,  Kthelbert  Norris,  Louis  J.  Ottenot,  Nelson  Porter,  John  C. 
Pratt,  William  Powell,  David  C.  Powell,  Charles  F.  Shaeffer,  Finley  Sparier,  Philip 
Shermann,  Austin  Salslmry,  Christian  Stemwagle,  David  A.  Strong,  John  Sherman, 
Adam  Schamberger,  Jas.  A.  Thompson,  James  Taylor,  Jabez  Valentine,  Jas. 
Williams,  William  II.  Watson,  Adam  Watz,  Rudolph  Wasmer. 

Of  these,  Joseph  Reed,  Corporal,  was  sick  and  left  behind  at  Elmira.  C.  Cun 
ningham  transferred  to  Capt.  Faxon's  Company,  36th  Regiment.  John  Howard 
deserted.  John  Sherman,  John  II.  Mathews  and  Alfred  Dowling,  were  mustered 
out,  the  last  being  "over  age."  John  J.  Brush  joined  when  the  company  was 
mustered  into  the  U.  S.  Service,  and  had  not  been  sworn  into  that  of  the  State. 

The  letter  of  this  company  was  originally  "  B."  Companies  "I"  and  "  II  " 
were  originally  "  D  "  and  "  C,"  but  also  gave  up  their  letters  to  the  companies  made 
up  from  those  known  by  the  same  letters  in  the  Seventy-Fourth. 


COMPANY  "G." 

Captain  —  EDWARD  L.  LEE. 

ist  Lieutenant  —  DANIEL  MYERS,  Jr. 

2d  Lieutenant  —  J.  E.  BERGTOLD. 

1st  Sergeant — Martin  R.  Clark  ;  2d  Sergeant — John  D.  Manny;  jd  Sergeant — 
Walter  M.  Foy ;  4th  Sergeant — John  Williamson,  ist  Corporal — John  Bump;  2d 
Corporal — Edward  Daggett ;  3d  Corporal — John  Taylor;  4th  Corporal — Job  Bump. 
Privates — John  Bidwell,  Daniel  Barrows,  James  II.  Blake,  John  Bruner,  Joseph 
Backeridge,  Elias  Bader,  Herman  Biesolt,  John  Beard,  James  Beaton,  Andrew 
Bercher,  Mathew  Carson,  William  Crapo,  Thomas  A.  Curran,  Orlando  F.  Day, 
James  Diamond,  Jacob  Fberly,  Paul  Evarts,  William  Fitzpatrick,  John  H.  Fritcher, 
Henry  Fick,  Stafford  J.  Godfrey,  Nicholas  Geiger,  Valentine  Gies,  John  W.  Huges, 
Chas.  Hirt,  Christian  Haines,  William  Ilassinger,  William  H.  Harris,  David  II. 
King,  Philip  Keppler,  John  Layh,  Henry  Lueg,  George  Kurtz,  John  Knoul,  Jacob 
Lenard,  Thomas  J.  Landon,  Leonard  McLeur,  William  Miller,  Charles  Marvel, 
William  Mathews,  Charles  Naevel,  William  Pohlman,  George  Partridge,  Augustus 
Porter,  Martin  F.  Ryan,  Frederick  Roberts.  Caspar  Reinhart,  Robert  Riecl,  Wm.  H. 
Sherman,  Julius  Sheffel,  Peter  Smith,  Newell  Spaulding,  Thomas  LI.  Shuler,  Charles 
Schroeder,  Herman  Sanders,  John  Stangel,  John  Shoemaker,  Nelson  W.  Wade, 
George  Wiedrich,  John  II.  Wolff,  Justus  Weisgerber,  Peter  Wirt,  Frederick  Wright, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  65 

Michael  Zurbrick,  Charles  Zindell,  John  Clodis,  George  Yorkston,  James  Parker, 
John  Platt,  Bernhart  Shifterling,  Robert  Cooperisch,  Joseph  Clou.se,  Frederick  Wessel, 
Ahart  Siebel,  John  O'Connor,  Alexander  Johnston,  Theodore  Billbrick,  John  Cook, 
Frederick  Schucat,  Christian  Boderman,  John  Spahn,  Christopher  Fen/.le,  Louis 
Schafer,  John  Vanneter,  Charles  Rendell,  George  F.  Rickert,  Peter  Snider. 

Of  twenty-two  of  these  last,  beginning  with   John  Clodis,  nineteen  were  trans 
ferred  to  other  companies,  only  three  out  of  the  number  being  rejected. 


Captain — JAMF.S  C.  STRONG. 

ist  Lieutenant— CHARLES  E.  EFNKR. 

2d  Lieutenant — THOMAS  SLOAN. 

1st  Sergeant — William  L.  Whitney  ;  2(1  Sergeant  —  Peter  I  -eggett ;  3(1  Sergeant — 
Adam  Rehm  ;  4th  Sergeant — II.  IT.  Bridges.  ist  Corporal — Caleb  C.  McCready  ; 
2d  Corporal — John  W.  Cook;  31!  Corporal — Charles  W.  Stiles;  4th  Corporal — 
Henry  W.  Linman.  Musician — Charles  \V.  Ferris.  Privates — John  Andrews, 
Francis  Anderson,  Harvey  Beebee,  Victor  I!.  Butler,  John  Burke,  Charles  Ball, 
Daniel  S.  Conover,  Alfred  Crawford,  William  Craw,  William  Chambers,  Cornelius 
Calverly,  William  J.  Cook,  Charles  W.  Chase,  Henry  Clock,  William  1 1.  Craig, 
John  Dormer,  Richard  Eagle,  Albert  Fihnore,  Robert  George,  John  Gray,  Frank 
Goodwin,  Henry  Green,  Richard  Hicks,  Myron  \V.  Herbeit,  |acob  Kirsch,  George 
Kirth,  George  Kaberlein,  Patrick  Kene,  Charles  Leonard,  John  La  Fever,  William 
Lewis,  Nathaniel  Lindley,  Jacob  Moskopf,  James  Milham,  John  McCarthy,  George 
Mosier,  Edward  Manning,  William  Murray,  Henry  Miller,  Michael  Morgan,  William 
Slender,  Lewis  Strait,  Samuel  Benjamin,  Robert  Sherry,  Thomas  Sweeney,  Joseph 
Shoemaker,  Richard  Sturm,  John  F.  Yalleare,  George  Venables,  Charles  Vetter, 
Edward  Vanderburgh,  Anthony  Van  I  fatten,  Alfred  Warner,  William  Wisser, 
Frederick  Wilk,  Delavan  M.  Yeamans,  Christian  Ziehm,  Silas  Benson,  Edward 
Cook,  George  L.  Cook,  Henry  II.  Davis,  Thomas  Gordon,  Charles  R.  Hallenbcck, 
John  O'Brian,  George  Peterson,  Thomas  Dailey,  Gilbert  Tompkins.  Making  67 
in  all. 

Of  these,  Charles  W.  Stiles  refused  to  swear  into  the  U.  S.  Service,  andvwas 
left  behind;  and  Kirth,  Kene,  McCarty,  Murray,  Benjamin,  Vanderburgh,  Wilk, 
Benson  and  Dailey  were  rejected. 

COMPANY  "A." 

Captain — ROUT.  P.  GARDNER — (vice  DRFAY.) 

ist  Lieutenant — LF.VI  YAI.I.IKR. 

2d  Lieutenant — CHART. KS  S.  McBKAN. 

1st  Sergeant — John  E.  Ransom;  2d  Sergeant — Frederick  Somers;  30!  Ser 
geant — Patrick  Cusack  ;  4th  Sergeant — Francis  Myers.  1st  Corporal — James 
Masterson  ;  2d  Corporal — James  Dove;  3*!  Corporal — Henry  Klein,  Jr.  Privates — 
Arthur  W.  Adams,  Justin  Bamat,  Alexander  Begg,  Adam  Bingemann,  John  Binge- 
mann,  James  II.  Blake,  Jacob  Breitwieser,  Ernest  Broemel,  Wm.  Brown,  Albert 


66  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

Buhler,  Charles  K.  Burdick,  George  B.  Canning,  Louis  Chautems,  John  Cline, 
Andrew  Coline,  James  Crudden,  George  W.  Cutter,  Stephen  Diebold,  Edward 
Donahue,  Thomas  Donavan,  Henry  F.  Dupont,  Charles  K.  Emery,  Joseph  Mason 
Estabrook,  John  Farley,  Myron  H.  Field,  Adolph  Fischer,  Nicholas  Fischi,  Robert 
Fitzgerald,  Thaddeus  M.  Fowler, /Emil  Gassman,  Rinehardt  Geisen,  Lewis  P. 
Gilbert,  John  Ginther,  Milton  A.  Gray,  Joseph  Hamilton,  William  T.  Healy, 
Constantine  E.  Hetsch,  Patrick  Hickey,  Thomas  Hines,  Simeon  King,  John 
Lawrence,  John  Lloyd,  Charles  E.  Lock  wood,  William  Mang,  James  Masterson, 
Patrick  McCarran,  William  McKay,  William  A.  McDonald,  Archibald  McGregor, 
Henry  McLane,  Jr.,  George  W.  Morgan,  Edgar  Nason,  Harding  Newcomb,  John 
Noverre,  Hiram  Olske,  James  Parezo,  John  Pax,  Louis  Penner,  Charles  B.  Peter 
son,  Robert  C.  Provoost,  Martin  Randolph,  Jasper  F.  Richardson,  McKin/.cy  Saraw, 
John  Shaffer,  Frank  Schwegel,  Jacob  Schick,  Joseph  Simon,  Charles  E.  Sprague, 
Peter  Spies,  Leander  Taylor,  James  Ten  Broeck,  John  Tucker,  Nelson  H.  Van 
Natter,  Marlborough  Wells,  Wm.  H.  Williams,  Julius  Wirth,  Henry  Zink,  Abraham 
H.  Bennett,  John  Callihan,  James  F.  Colton,  Edward  A.  Hewes,  Henry  Klein,  Jr., 
Charles  McBean,  Jr.,  William  H.  Sliter,  Theodore  H.  Staedtler,  Henry  J. 
Van  Natter. 

Leroy  II.  Briggs  did  not  leave  Buffalo.  James  1 1.  Blake  was  transferred  to  "  G." 
Chautems,  Healy,  Hickey,  Noverre  and  Wirth,  were  transferred  to  "  I."  Cutter, 
Emery,  Ginther,  Provoost,  Bennett,  Colton  and  Hughes,  were  rejected.  Williams 
and  McLane  were  discharged. 


COMPANY  "I." 
Captain — HORACE  G.  THOMAS. 

-•".41  i in  •»        "i  nil         «*•*      ..«;-••«.,  ,X, 

ist  Lieutenant— ABBOTT  C.  CALKINS. 
2d  Lieutenant— WILLIAM  O.  BROWN,  Jr. 

ist  Sergeant — John  W.  Comstock ;  2d  Sergeant — Patrick  Ilickey;  3(1  Ser 
geant — Julius  Wirth;  4th  Sergeant — Edwin  J.  Cooper,  ist  Corporal — Charles  T. 
Shit-Is;  2d  Corporal — George  Siver;  jd  Corporal — John  E.  Ellsworth;  41  h  Cor 
poral — James  Clark.  Musicians — John  Riegle  and  David  Scott.  Privates — 
Christian  Ahler,  Frank  Aignee,  John  Aiken,  Richard  J.  Beard,  Frederick  Bogle, 
John"  Brunk,  Peter  Brummell,  Charles  Bohm,  Louis  Chautems,  Charles  Connelly, 
Arthur  Cook,  George  Dauhausen,  John  Deigle,  Louis  Ernst,  Peter  J.  Fall),  Robert 
Finland,  Gustavus  Gielsdorf,  Charles  II.  Hagerty,  Henry  Jlilger,  Zachariah  Hess, 
Jacob  Hodick,  Louis  Hoffman,  Henry  S.  Holmes,  Christian  Hula,  John  Jepson, 
William  Jones,  Jacob  Junck,  Adam  Kill,  William  Kinsman,  Lucas  Kirchmier, 
Albert  Kubler,  Justin  Lasson,  Alon/o  Lavalla,  David  Loughrey,  John  Mane, 
Duncan  McDonald,  John  W.  McKay,  Joseph  McMahon,  John  McMillen,  Michael 
Micklen,  Peter  Miller,  John  Muirhead,  Patrick  Murphy,  George  Ouinton,  John 
Schult/,  Charles  Schwannecke,  Charles  Singer,  John  Sloan,  Louis  Steicke,  John 
Traus,  Charles  Trauth,  George  Weimer,  Reinhold  Will,  Augustus  Voss. 

The  following  were  rejected  at  Elmira  :  Charles  Beck%  Henry  J.  Brown,  Charles 
Bubb,  Henry  Freymiller,  Paul  Gillings,  Henry  Ileintz,  Jack  Jurgenick,  Edward 
McGowan,  John  Myer,  Delavan  Newkirk,  Jacob  Nick,  Eugene  Noel  and  Philip 
Thomas.  Emanuel  Vandemuth,  deserted. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  67 


Captain — HENRY  M.  GAYLORD. 

ist  Lieutenant — ALOAR  M.  WTHEELEK. 

2(1  Lieutenant — JAMES  J.  McLEisii. 

1st  Sergeant — James  S.  Mulligan;  2(1  Sergeant— Charles  II.  Bidwell ;  y\  Ser 
geant —Greig  II.  Mulligan;  4th  Sergeant — John  \V.  Davbck.  1st  Corporal — 
Thomas  W.  Bishop;  2(1  Corporal — Gayer  Gardner;  3d  Corporal — Egbert  B. 
Wallace  ;  4th  Corporal — Henry  M.  Halsey.  Musicians — John  A.  Bodamer  and 
Francis  Schloegl.  Privates — Charles  M.  Andre,  Albert  Ayre,  Adam  Anding,  David 
U.  Bidwell,  Theodore  1).  Bidwell,  William  J.  Burt,  John  A.  Balcom,  Barnard  II. 
Bommell,  Lewis  P.  Brown,  Louis  I'.  Beyer,  Edgar  Brand,  Geo.  I'.  Brand,  Frank  M. 
Case,  Lewis  J.  Carpenter,  John  Cole,  Charles  II.  Dyer,  William  J.  Dole,  Charles  E. 
Efnor,  William  Ernst,  Henry  R.  Ells,  ( Jeorge  W.  French,  Elbridge  G.  Fenton,  Charles 
W.  Fisher,  Thomas  W.  Frink,  John  A.  Gibson,  Henry  Gross,  Newman  U.  Goodrich, 
Charles  II.  Grant,  John  Alfred  Ilayward,  Arnold  G.  Harris,  John  I'.  Hatch,  John  II. 
Howard,  Wm.  Hengerer,  Frederick  Hanes,  fames  A.  I  lusted,  Franklin  Hall,  William 
C.  Ingraham,  Samuel  S.  Jordan,  ('has.  E.  Johnson,  Hopkins  Joslyn,  Geo.  Krauskopf, 
Augustus  Klein,  Garretl  1>.  Lock  wood,  Warren  Lowry,  Henry  A.  Maynard,  George 
W.  Mugridge,  John  Marhover,  Charles  Millington,  John  McMillan,  Frank  Oltenot, 
George  \V.  ( )wen,  John  O'Donnell,  Benjamin  Parker,  Henry  Papey,  Wm.  I).  Piince, 
William  S.  Robinson,  Chauncy  C.  Robinson,  George  Reihl,  Franklin  Rogers,  John 
Savage,  Frank  G.  Stephen,  Jacob  F.  Schocnthal,  Chas.  A.  Swart/,  Frank  Stacy,  Fred 
erick  Schoeck,  Christopher  Sagclhorst,  Aden  W.  Tyler,  Benjamin  R.  Train,  John  M. 
TafT,  Marshall  II.  Tryon,  Jr.,  Joshua  G.  Towne,  Robert  Taggart,  John  Vandewater, 
Elijah  Yibbard,  John  \.  Wheeler,  Pascal  P.  W'eissgerber,  Fayette  II.  Warriner,  George 
II.  Watson,  Xavier  Zimmerman,  Edward  Fero. 

Ayre,  Brown,  Carpenter,  Frink,  Jordon,  Klein,  McMillan,  Reihl,  Train,  Taff, 
Yibbard  and  Fero,  were  rejected.  Mugridge  was  transferred  to  "  II,"  and  (Htenot  to 
"  K."  Charles  E.  Efner  was  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant  in  "  E."  Franklin  Rogers 
was  discharged. 


Captain — GE<>K<;E  DE  WITT  CLINTON. 
1st    Lieutenant — THOMAS   B.   WRIGHT. 
2d   Lieutenant — CHARLES  15.  DARROW. 

1st  Sergeant — Samuel  McMurray;  2<1  Sergeant — Albert  I'.  Ransom;  3d  Sergeant 
— Clark  Dodge;  4th  Sergeant — DC  Witt  C.  White.  1st  Corporal — Am/.i  L.  Bryant; 
2d  Corporal — David  A.  Harper;  3d  Corporal — Jasper  S.  Voting;  4th  C'orporal — Derrick 
L.  Pomeroy.  1st  Musician — Erastus  Waldron ;  2d  Musician — Turner  K.  Williams. 
Privates — David  L.  Aberdeen,  George  Altenberg,  John  Burke,  Jacob  Billiar,  Joseph 
Bellanger,  fames  Bergen,  Robert  IS.  Buck,  William  Collis,  Lyman  E.  Cobb,  John 
Coffee,  James  W.  Constantine,  William  B.  Constantine,  Herbert  S.  De  Puy,  Elwood  F. 
Doty,  John  Duggan,  Anthony  Dumoulin,  Charles  I.  Dutton,  George  Dupont,  Francis 
Englehardt,  George  W.  Foote,  Charles  II.  Fowler,  John  H.  Galligan,  Warren  Granger, 
Jr.,  George  Greek,  Charles  Gross,  James  H.  Glennie,  John  Hall,  Christain  Hammer, 


68  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Charles  Heel),  John  Henry,  James  Ileustis,  Charles  W.  Holden,  Charles  E.  Holman, 
Dorman  A.  Holt,  Charles  1  letlrick,  Joseph  Jerke,  William  B.  Jewett,  John  Johnson, 
Horace  Jones,  Archibald  Johnson,  John  Killhoffer,  Jacob  Krettner,  jr.,  Frederick  K. 
Lisser,  Charles  11.  Lillibridge,  Peter  Lippey,  William  I).  Lucas,  Frank  W.  Lucas, 
Zebina  1!.  McMerrick,  Alexander  W.  McPhcrson,  Fdwin  L.  Marvin,  Ernest  Mampel, 
Charles  F.  Mercer,  Fred.  Moll,  John  W.  Moores,  Nicholas  Morris,  Laflety  Nellis, 
Frederick  C.  Parks,  Howell  Pi.xley,  fosiah  Prine,  William  Rankin,  Alexander  Reidpath, 
William  K.  Robinson,  Richard  W.  Rockwell,  Edward  Ruth,  Langdon  Russ,  Theron 
Schcll,  Peter  Scheyer,  Frederick  Smith,  Enuinuel  Snearly,  William  II.  Sprague,  George 
Sneidwin,  Charles  L.  Stevens,  Richard  Walsh,  John  II.  Ward,  James  Weber,  Jacob 
Wiedler,  Joseph  F.  Wilkins,  Michael  Wheelan,  William  H.  Willard,  John  Wolk,  Louis 
Shafer,  Henry  S)>icer,  and  Joseph  Bartlett. 

( )f  these,  Hall,  Hetlrick,  Snearly  and  Walsh  were  rejected  on  account  of  excess 
of  numbers.  Corporal  [asper  S.  Youngs  and  private  Granger  and  Pixley  were  rejected 
by  Medical  Inspector.  Englehardt  and  Shafer  were  transferred  to  "II"  Company. 

Col  fee,  Archibald  fohnson,  Lippey,  McMerrick,  Mampel  and  Prine,  were  trans 
ferred  to  "E"  Co.  Samuel  P.  Gail  was  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  Service  on  the  2Oth  of 
May,  vice  Harrow. 


Captain— J.   P.  WASHHURN — (vice   ROGKKS.) 

ist   Lieutenant — AI.LKN   M.  ADAMS. 

2d    Lieutenant — JOHN   II.  CANKIKLD. 

1st  Sergeant — George  L.  Remington;  2d  Sergeant— Frederick  A.  Colson ;  3d  Ser 
geant —  Harry  Wells;  4th  Sergeant — George  Hurst.  1st  Corporal — Robert  S.  Wilcox  ; 
2d  Corporal — Herschell  K.  Fullerton;  3d  Corporal — George  T.  Cook;  4th  Corporal — 
John  Hoy.  1st  Musician — |os.  Zrenner;  2(1  Musician — Charles  M.  Fisher.  Privates 
— Henry  Adams,  William  Archer,  William  S.  Banta,  George  M.  Bassetl,  Joseph  H. 
Bcn/ino,  William  II.  Boorman,  Oscar  ( ).  Bowen,  William  II.  Britlon,  Franklin  S. 
Carpenter,  George  W.  Carpenter,  |r.,  John  Ceis,  Charles  II.  Colt,  Charles  H.  Dobbins, 
Henry  Dorey,  Horace  L.  Dunlap,  Charles  W.  Edgerton,  Edwin  farming,  Henry  Fero, 
Isaac  L.  Gary,  George  J.  Getsinger,  Warren  B.  Gibbs,  Walter  J.  Gibson,  Thompson 
Guernsey,  Charles  II.  Gundlach,  Edward  H.  Hale,  Charles  C.  Henderson,  Samuel  E. 
Hoffman,  Ralph  P.  Howe,  William  R.  Jeudevine,  John  II.  Judson,  Edgar  A.  Lang- 
ham,  Charles  Lanigan,  Lucius  R.  Lewis,  John  M.  Locke,  John  H.  Mansfield,  Charles 
C.  Marvin,  Thomas  K.  Meech,  Waller  G.  McNally,  James  McGowan,  William  M. 
McKay,  George  W.  Miller,  Andrew  Miller,  James  Mills,  Henry  P.  Morse,  Theodore 
M.  Nagle,  Henry  A.  Oberist,  Edward  Palmer,  Robert  Pomeroy,  Giles  T.  •  Ransom, 
Horace  M.  Rose,  Mil  ford  S.  Salisbury,  Fayelte  G.  Seavey,  John  M.  Schwinn,  Charles 
( ).  Shepard,  Jr.,  John  T.  Smith,  I  )e  Forrest  Stand  art,  Benjamin  F.  Steele,  Charles  B. 
Stone,  Albert  R.  Swart/,  ('has.  H.  Tallman,  John  1).  Taylor,  William  J.  Thompson, 
Byron  L.  Tiffany,  Edward  H.  Van  Sicklan,  Romulus  B.  Vaughn,  Julius  A.  Weiss, 
William  E.  Widell,  Luther  (1.  Woodward,  William  "Wright,  Andrew  Young,  George 
S.  Adams. 

Bowen,  McGowan  and  Giles  T.  Ransom,  were  rejected.  Marvin  was  transferred 
to  "  F,"  Tiffany  to  "  E,"  and  George  S.  Adams  to  "II,"  Company. 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  69 

COMPANY   "D." 

Captain — WH.I.IAM   C.   ALHKKCKR. 
1st    Lieutenant — (IKOI:<;K   M.    BAKKK. 
2d   Lieutenant — WILLIAM   F.   WHLKLER. 

1st  Sergeant — Daniel  II.  Blatchford;  2(1  Sergeant — Byron  Schermerhorn;  31!  Ser 
geant —  Morris  II.  Alberger;  4th  Sergeant — Henry  C.  Beebee.  1st  Corporal — Ogden 
Campbell;  2(1  Corporal — Willelt  II.  Fargo;  jd  Corporal — Charles  L.  I  )e  Forrest ;  4th 
Corporal — David  W.  Tuttle.  1st  Musician — Napoleon  I!.  Lamier;  2(1  Musician — 
Harrison  Cuild.  Privates — Henry  C.  Allman,  Alon/.o  1).  Bailey,  Fdvvard  S.  Barnes, 
John  A.  Barney,  John  M.  Brainard,  Henry  Bronncr,  Henry  W.  Brooks,  Newell  L. 
Burr,  Abner  Chase,  Henry  R.  S.  Colton,  W.  K.  Cowing,  Ceorge  Duerr,  Win.  15. 
Devening,  Orville  Dewey,  A.  Preston  Dunlap,  Charles  Uodsworth,  Henry  Firman, 
Lawrence  Foster,  C'harles  M.  Fox,  Tobias  Casser,  Charles  (lillig,  William  (Jlynn, 
James  S.  Cowans,  John  F.  (1  raves,  Paul  Ilomelius,  Oliver  Cleveland  Houghton,  Pierce 
Hurley,  James  Howson,  Daniel  W.  |enney,  Willis  S.  Kemp,  Fmerson  K  ester,  James 
P.  Kneeland,  John  I''.  Langanhardir,  Henry  C.  Lansing,  Fernando  C'.  Lewis,  James  K. 
Mackay,  Marvin  Montague,  Felix  K.  Mayburn,  John  Harrison  Mills,  John  II.  Metcalf 
Ceorge  W.  Morgan,  David  Morrison,  Cyrus  ( ).  Palmer,  John  M.  Peabody,  Frank  H. 
Pierce,  Stanley  Porter,  William  Porter,  David  Potts,  Fdward  Prior,  John  15.  Rehm, 
C'harles  1!.  Rice,  Daniel  II.  Sheldon,  Ira  |.  Sheldon,  Jacob  Shick,  Fernando  Smith, 
C'harles  C.  Short,  William  Shoo]),  Alfred  Spencer,  Jolm  T.  Stow,  William  F.  Thorp, 
Joseph  P.  Thompson,  Edward  Vickery,  Cornelius  Waldron,  William  15.  Williams, 
Stewart  Ellsworth,  lames  II.  Courtney,  Henry  Freeman,  J.  Hughes,  Scion  (.*.  Lewis, 
Norman  Sncll,  John  Shalt/,  John  Tyman,  William  Venn,  Anton  Philbert,  John  Mills, 
and  ( leorge  M.  I  ,ove. 

( )f  these,  eleven,  beginning  with  Stewart  Ellsworth,  were  rejected.  Ellsworth 
went  as  Colonel's  orderly,  and  John  Mills,  Hughes  and  Snell,  joined  another  company. 
Scion  (1.  Lewis  afterwards  enlisted  under  C'apt.  Randall,  in  the  ySth  New  York. 
Ceorge  M.  Love  was  Orderly  Sergeant  of  the  company  until  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Sergeant- Major. 


Captain — ELISIIA   L.   HAYWARI>. 
1st   Lieutenant — SAMCKI,  WII.KKSON. 
2d    Lieutenant — Hrcii  JOHNSON. 

1st  Sergeant — Frederic  Minery;  2(1  Sergeant — John  McC'abe;  30!  Sergeant — 
Ceorge  Adams;  4lh  Sergeant — Andrew  R.  Palmer.  1st  Corporal — Andrew  J.  Peck; 
2d  Corporal — Chas.  Streber;  3d  Corporal — Thos.  Parr;  4th  Corporal — Harvey  G. 
Johnson.  Fifer — Mathew  1 1.  Young.  Privates — Byron  Allen,  Christain  Brackenlicker, 
Jas.  Bailey,  Moses  Beach,  John  Briggan,  Adolphus  Bowman,  Fdward  Bowman, 
Alexander  Burwell,  John  Clark,  James  B.  Cole,  El/care  Couture,  Ansel  W.  Dumphrey, 
(as.  Edward,  Chas.  A.  Ewers,  Thos.  Eraser,  Henry  Francis,  Isaac  Freeman,  Eugene 
J.  French,  Thomas  (lisborn,  John  Harlaeher,  Joseph  Hackett,  Louis  Haas,  Edward 
A.  Hewes,  John  Hedges,  Henry  W.  Henderson,  John  Heim,  Jr.,  Frank  Huber,  John 


70  CHRONICLES    OF     THE 

Johnson,  Thomas  Kneeland,  William  C.  Kirk,  Joseph  E.  Lick  el,  Philip  Lingsweiler, 
Maxi  Manley,  Dennis  Maroney,  Platt  Martin,  Louis  Muller,  Martin  Muller,  John  Mills, 
Chas.  Morgan,  Chas.  Lavant  Frescott,  Alex.  Petrie,  Kurt  Rinckleben,  Jacob  Roth, 
Louis  Sand,  Henry  Seeman,  Chas.  Stoddard,  Albert  J.  Valentine,  John  Welch,  Andrew 
B.  Wise,  Thomas  E.  Bell,  Charles  Carpenter,  Alexander  Cook,  James  Cunningham, 
Wm.  II.  Doyle,  William  Golland,  Moses  Lapoint,  Mortimer  Seely,  Franklin  Sherman, 
Jas.  Berry,  and  John  E.  Wasson. 

Of  these,  James  II.  Rich,  Sergeant,  Byron  Allen,  Alexander  Burwell,  John  Clark, 
James  Edward,  Thomas  Gibson,  Henry  W.  Henderson,  John  Johnston,  Thomas 
Kneeland,  William  C.  Kirk,  Maxi  Manley,  Dennis  Maroney,  Jacob  Roth,  Henry 
Seeman,  Andrew  B.  Wise,  and  Albert  J.  Valentine,  were  discharged  the  State  Service. 
Moses  Beach  deserted  June  I5th 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  71 


CHAPTER    I  I  I. 


From  Klmiru  to  Washington.  — A  glimpse  of  affairs  at  the  seat  of  Government. — Go  into  camp  at 
Kulornma.— The  Spring.— Midnight  alarm  again.— Capture  of  a  Spy.— The  Adjutant  outflanked. 
— A  viper  scotched. — First  pay-day. — Life  in  Camp,  and  how  we  take  it  — A  lesson  concerning 
entrenchments. — Marching  orders. — Rumors  and  anticipations. — We  celebrate  the  Fourth. — 
( )ur  old  arms  are  exchanged  for  new. 


The  last  adieus  are  said,  and  Elmira,  with  its  crowds  of  people, 
weeping  friends,  and  cheering  townsmen,  has  vanished  behind  us. 
The  train  has  described  a  long,  steady  curve,  in  avoiding  one  of 
those  familiar  hills,  and  now,  headed  straight  South,  bears  on  like  a 
race  horse,  or  like  our  typical  Buffalo  on  his  native  plains,  with 
lowered  head  and  sturdy  front. 

Hurrah  for  Dixie!  How  the  farmers  in  the  fields,  and  their 
wives  and  daughters  at  the  doors,  cheer  as  we  pass  like  the  wind! 
These  sturdy  fellows  at  their  work,  look  wistfully  after  us  as  they 
wave  their  hats,  and  seem  to  say  "  How  I  'd  like  to  be  with  you." 
I  wonder  how  many  of  them  will  leave  their  plows  and  follow  us  ere 
another  seeding  time.  And  the  pretty  country  girls,  with  their  rosy 
cheeks,  waving  a  cheer  as  we  pass,  look  so  pretty  and  patriotic, 
that  I  doubt  their  will  to  restrain  these  wistful  fellows,  as  much  as  I 
believe  in  their  power  to  encourage  the  transformation  of  plow 
shares  and  reaping  hooks  into  swords  and  spears. 

Our  saucy  fellows  return  their  hail  with  a  gusto,  and  each  car 
window  is  a  battery  from  which  whole  volleys — perfect  salvos — of 
kisses  cire  discharged  at  these  poor  damsels,  who  sometimes,  in  the 
fervor  of  their  loyal  little  hearts,  return  them,  but  oftener  hide  their 
suffused  faces  in  their  aprons,  or  behind  mamma's  shoulder. 

Our  boys  have  recovered  their  spirits — not  a  trace  of  the  part 
ing  remains,  and  each  seems  to  "lay  himself  out"  to  the  enjoyment 
of  the  journey.  Some  sit  musing  with  apparent  content  in  their 
eyes,  looking  out  upon  the  beautiful  panorama  of  mountain,  stream 
and  forest  through  which  we  glide.  Others  are  boisterously  merry, 
(I  suspect  these  of  having  felt  the  parting  most),  and  seem  deter 
mined  for  ever  to  ignore  "dull  care,"  and  give  all  sorrows  the  cut 


72  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

direct.  Some  of  this  hilarity  is  evidently  due  to  the  circulation  ot 
certain  original  packages, — the  bottoms  of  said  packages  having 
probably  been  marked  "this  end  up  with  care,"  or  at  least  I  judge 
so  from  their  persistent  efforts  to  keep  them  in  the  air.  In  each  car 
there  is  at  least  one  impromptu  glee  club,  and  sometime  the  whole 
car  joins  in  some  such  chorus  as  this: 

(  hv  !   O\v — \v  !   ( )\v — \v — \v  ! 

I  )on't  yer  hear  me  now! 
I'm  de  biggest  wid  a  brush  in  all  creation, 
I'm  asjjoin'  down  to  Washington  to  try  to  s^it  a  job, 
For  to  wash  out  de  black  deeds  of  de  nation! 

As  we  approach  the  State  line,  the  scenery  grows  wilder  and 
more  magnificent.  The  farm  houses  nestle  farther  from  each  other 
in  the  valleys,  and  the  regular  patches  of  cultivated  land,  with  their 
checkered  variety  of  grain  fields,  are  agreeably  relieved  by  stretches 
of  almost  primeval  forest,  broken  by  ledges  and  bluffs  inaccessible 
to  cultivation. 

We  cross  the  Pennsylvania  line.  At  every  little  hamlet  among 
the  hills  we  are  greeted  by  the  entire  population,  and  the  nearer 
our  approach  to  hostile  borders  the  warmer  our  welcome.  The 
rumors  of  wars  bring  to  these  homes  a  possibility  of  invasion, — a 
nearer  realization  of  the  horrors  of  war,  than  those  feel  who  are 
secure  in  their  distance  from  those  boundaries, — and  how  gladly 
they  hail  deliverance  from  these  prospects.  At  every  stopping 
place,  therefore,  they  swarm  about  us,  the  men  to  exchange  the  latest 
news,  the  women  to  tell  us  of  husbands,  sons,  brothers  and  friends 
who  have  gone  before  us  to  the  front,  and  how  glad  they  are  to  see 
us  of  the  farther  North  coming  to  their  aid.  Nearly  every  girl  has 
brought  an  armful  of  bouquets  to  distribute  among  us.  If  she  has 
but  one,  she  selects  THE  knight  who  shall  bear  her  favor,  and  per 
haps  before  we  move  on  they  have  exchanged  addresses  and  prom 
ised  to  correspond.  Some  of  these  wicked  fellows  have  got  numbers 
of  such  presents,  with  accompanying  cards  or  little  slips  of  paper, 
with  specimens  of  delicate  female  chirography,  which  they  are  very 
cautious  about  showing. 

At  Williamsport  we  stop  for  dinner.  News  of  our  approach 
has  preceded  us,  and  we  find  that  the  ladies  of  the  town  have  spread 
a  bountiful  feast,  to  which  they  welcome  us,  and  we  fall  to  in  a  way 
that  proves  our  appreciation  of  the  fare.  The  ladies  wait  upon  us, 
and  we  pledge  them  in  bumpers  of  freshest  milk  and  cups  of  fragrant 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  73 

coffee,  and  at  last  tear  ourselves  away,  the  richer  by  large  additions 
to  our  stock  of  nosegays,  and  the  recollection  of  their  smiles  and 
kind  words.  The  boys  will  long  remember  the  ladies  of  Williams- 
port,  and  well  they  may.  Capt.  Hayward  made  a  neat  speech  of 
acknowledgment,  we  gave  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  ladies,  and 
then  the  cry  of  "all  aboard,"  cut  short  the  flirtations  begun  in  fun 
by  some,  in  earnest  by  others,  and  away  we  go  again. 

The  Wyoming  Valley,  always  lovely,  was  to-day  especially  so. 
Winding  around  the  precipitous  sides,  a  gulf  on  one  hand,  a  wall  ol 
rock  on  the  other,  writhing  about  in  an  absurd  manner,  leaping  aw 
ful  chasms,  sometimes  seeming  to  sail  in  the  air,  and  again  burrowing 
into  the  hillside,  as  if  upon  some  geological  exploring  expedition, 
tangling  itself  in  the  deepest  forests,  and  emerging  with  a  flash  to 
daylight  and  civilization,  coqueting  with  emulous  streams,  or  braid 
ing  courses  with  a  dozen  of  them,  shrieking  a  warning  to  some 
vagrant  cow,  who  kicked  up  her  heels  defiantly  as  we  passed,  and 
anon  startling  the  trout  hunter  in  his  shady  nook,  our  train  rushed 
on;  while  we,  enjoying  every  moment  some  new  phase  of  its  beauties, 
feasted  eye  and  soul  upon  the  loveliness  of  this  paradise  upon 
earth. 

Some  time  in  the  afternoon  we  struck  the  west  branch  of  the 
Susquehanna,  and  late  at  night  reached  Harrisburg.  Our  halt  here 
was  but  for  a  moment.  Quartermaster  Sergeant  Doyle,  who  had 
preceded  us,  was  taken  aboard,  and  then,  as  Col.  Rogers  had 
received  orders  at  Williamsport  to  proceed  directly  to  Washington, 
the  train  was  backed  across  the  long  bridge,  and  we  were  taken  in 
tow  by  a  huge  coal  burning  locomotive,  and  whirled  away  toward 
Baltimore. 

This  morning,  June  19,  at  seven,  we  crossed  the  line  into  Mary 
land,  and  soon  after  were  reminded  of  our  proximity  to  a  hostile 
country  by  the  pickets  stationed  along  the  road.  They  were  Penn 
sylvania  and  Massachusetts  troops.  From  York  to  Baltimore  they 
were  placed  at  intervals  of  five  hundred  yards  for  the  entire  dis 
tance.  At  about  half  past  eight  we  crossed  where  the  first  bridge 
had  been  distroyed  by  the  Baltimoreans;  and  here  we  had  five 
rounds  of  catridges  dealt  out,  and  each  man  was  ordered  to  load 
his  musket.  Judging  from  the  experience  of  troops  preceding  us 
through  Baltimore,  there  was  a  possibility  of  trouble  for  us  there, 
and  every  one  hoped  that  we  might  have  an  opportunity  of  doing 
something  toward  the  vengeance  due  for  treatment  of  the  Mass 
achusetts  Sixth. 


74  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

We  now  crossed  two  more  of  the  burned  bridges,  or  rather 
crossed  where  their  blackened  remains  had  been  replaced  by 
strong-  temporary  structures,  and  here  we  found  strong  detachments 
of  United  States  Regulars,  who  hailed  us  joyfully.  When  within 
a  short  distance  of  Baltimore,  the  guard  detailed  the  day  before 
were  ordered  forward  to  the  cars  containing  the  luggage  and  quar 
termaster  's  stores.  When  we  reached  the  place,  these  were  switched 
off  upon  a  track  through  some  back  streets,  and  drawn  by  mules 
hitched  tandem-wise,  to  the  other  depot,  while  the  regiment  marched 
through  the  main  streets.  Although  the  streets  swarmed  with  ill- 
looking  men  who  scowled  at  us  as  we  passed,  no  open  demonstration 
was  made,  unless  the  display  of  a  secession  badge  here  and  there 
could  be  called  such.  But  it  was  hardest  upon  us  to  bear  with  the 
changed  demeanor  of  the  fair  sex.  Thus  far  they  had  been  charm 
ing,  fascinating,  anxious  only  to  encourage.  Here,  their  scornful 
glances  soon  showed  us  that  we  saw  anything  but  allies  in  them,  and, 
but  that  their  eyes  lacked  the  basilisk  power  of  wreaking  the 
hatred  they  expressed,  their  glances  would  have  been  quite  killing. 

Acting  upon  the  Christain  principle  of  returning  good  for  evil,  I 
sent  a  kiss  after  a  very  pretty  girl,  who  was  trying  to  look  very  cross 
and  scowling  at  me,  as  I  sat  in  the  open  side  of  the  baggage  car. 
It  was  quite  edifying  to  see  her  dodge  it,  and  I  thought  she  smiled 
as  she  took  refuge  behind  a  blind. 

A  few  ill-looking  fellows  offered  us  oranges  and  other  fruits,  but 
having  been  cautioned  against  eating  anything  which  might  be 
poisoned,  we  declined  their  proffers,  which  were  made  ungraciously, 
and  as  I  have  said,  by  ill-looking  fellows  who  were  much  more  likely 
to  have  been  concerned  in  the  murder  of  our  boys  a  few  weeks 
ago,  than  to  be  the  loyal  men  they  professed. 

The  loyalty  of  the  darkeys,  however,  was  unquestionable,  and 
we  did  not  hesitate  to  buy  of  them  what  they  chose  to  bring  for  our 
refreshment.  In  all  these  black  faces  suppressed  exultation  was 
visible,  and  they  would  bring  us  their  offerings  of  refreshments  and 
tell  us  how  glad  they  were  to  see  us.  In  the  suburbs  they  flocked 
from  the  shanties  to  see  us  pass,  and  all  had  some  word  of  cheerful 
greeting. 

A  short  distance  south  of  Baltimore  we  passed  numbers  of 
encampments,  and  at  one  o'clock  stopped  at  the  famous  Relay 
House.  Here  we  met  Col.  Jones,  of  the  Massachusetts  Eighth, 
which  is  stationed  on  the  bluff  above.  There  is  also  a  battery  there, 
which  commands  the  place  and  the  viaduct,  which  we  crossed  soon 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT. 


75 


after.  At  Baltimore  we  had  thirty-two  freight  cars  assigned  to 
transport  us  for  the  remainder  of  the  journey,  and  now  the  decks  of 
these  were  crowded  with  those  who  preferred  that  airy  seat,  and  the 
view  it  afforded  of  the  country  through  which  we  were  passing.  It 
was  level  and  monotonous  enough  here,  and  we  had  little  use  for 
our  eyes  except  to  watch  anxiously  for  some  indication  of  our 
journey's  end. 

At  two  o'clock  the  cry  was  "  Washington,"  and  there  in  the 
hazy  distance,  as  if  veiled  by  a  protecting  cloud,  or  like  a  mirage  in 
the  desert,  loomed  the  dome  of  our  menaced  Capitol.  The  boys 
crowded  the  decks  for  the  first  sight  of  our  Mecca,  and  gazed  with 
delight  on  this  realization  of  their  hopes.  But  a  nearer  approach 
robbed  the  view  of  its  enchantment.  Though  the  Capitol  still 
loomed  before  us  in  its  noble  proportions,  it  had  lost  the  aerial 
grandeur  of  that  first  sight,  and  we  were  only  impressed  with  its 
colossal  size  as  made  apparent  by  the  insignificant  and  inappropriate 
surroundings.  Our  approach  to  its  near  vicinity  was  through 
clusters  of  hovels,  surrounded  by  sloughs  and  reeking  purlieus  of 
mire  and  filth,  and  the  scent  which  greeted  our  olfactories  was 
almost  indicative  of  the  rotten  state  of  affairs  in  this  desecrated 
temple,  which  has  brought  our  land  to  the  verge  of  ruin. 

The  depot  lay  almost  in  the  shadow  of  the  Capitol,  and  when 
we  reached  it  and  disembarked,  the  column  was  formed  and  marched 
away  up  the  Avenue  to  quarters,  leaving  the  store  cars  in  charge  of 
the  guard. 

We  found  the  place  quite  full  of  troops.  Some  eighty  thousand 
are  said  to  be  in  the  place  and  vicinity,  and  many  regiments  have 
crossed  the  river.  The  rebels  are  said  to  be  concentrating  at  Fair 
fax  Court  House, — about  eighteen  miles  beyond  the  Potomac, — 
and  many  believe  that  they  will  soon  move  upon  Washington. 
Beauregard  is  said  to  have  sixty  thousand  men  there.  All  the 
regiments  here  are  kept  under  marching  orders,  and  we  are  hoping 
and  expecting  to  move  across  the  river  soon. 

Quarters  for  the  regiment  were  not  to  be  found  at  any  one 
place  in  town,  so  we  are  separated  temporarily, — part  of  the  regi 
ment  at  the  Union  House,  and  the  rest  occupying  a  large  unfinished 
building  on  the  Avenue. 

June  2Oth. — This  morning,  having  exhausted  the  supply  of 
cooked  provisions  brought  with  us  from  Elmira,  we  were  treated  to 
a  new  experience, — having  to  cook  our  own  rations.  It  was  amusing 
to  see  some  of  the  boys  when  the  raw  beef  was  dealt  out,  look  at  it 


76  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

with  a  what-£fl?z-I-do-with-it  sort  of  expression  on  their  faces.  The 
first  difficulty,  which  arose  from  a  paucity  of  cooking  stoves  and 
usual  culinary  apparatus,  was  obviated  with  little  delay.  A  few 
fires  on  the  pavement,  with  the  unsoldered  halves  of  some  old 
canteens  for  frying  pans,  was  the  result  of  this  necessity  for  the 
development  of  latent  resources,  and  when  we  had  prepared  our 
meal  and  squatted  on  our  knapsacks  to  enjoy  it,  I  think  we  all 
rather  relished  the  absence  of  accustomed  accessories.'  Sleeping  on 
the  floor,  too,  with  only  our  blankets  for  bed  and  covering,  was 
rather  hard,  but  before  we  had  sufficiently  rested  from  our  long  ride 
we  got  quite  accustomed  to  it. 

June  2ist. — This  morning  we  were  roused  by  the  reveille  at 
half-past  four.  I  find  that  rising  early  in  the  morning  is  much 
easier,  -costs  much  less  effort  than  it  usually  does  from  our  downy 
beds  at  home.  A  blanket  and  the  floor  will  afford  tired  nature  as 
sweet  a  restorative  as  ever  did  a  bed  of  eider  down,  and  one  is  not 
provoked  by  its  billowy  softness  to  untimely  dalliance  with  morning 
slumbers.  When  nature  is  satisfied  we  rise,  refreshed,  not  ener 
vated, — and  after  our  primitive  ablutions  at  the  corner  pump,  or 
from  a  canteen  held  by  an  obliging  comrade,  we  are  ready  at  once 
for  our  other  duties.  First  we  put  our  quarters  in  order,  then 
prepare  our  morning  meal,  making  our  own  coffee  in  our  tin  cups, 
and  very  good  coffee  it  is,  too,  and  with  our  bread  and  meat,  and 
the  little  additions  our  pocket  money  affords  us,  enjoy  a  hearty  and 
wholesome  meal. 

This  morning  a  squad  of  us  went  down  to  the  Potomac  for  a 
swim,  near  where  the  new  Washington  Monument  rears  its  unsightly 
bulk,  like  all  else  here,  unfinished — like  all  else,  bearing  a  mournful 
appearance  of  decay  and  ruin,  as  if  death  had  stricken  down  its 
builders  an  age  ago,  while  their  work  was  but  half  done.  All  the 
waste  around  is  strewed  with  blocks  of  stone,  as  are  the  grounds 
around  the  Capitol,  as  well  as  every  common,  square,  and  many  ol 
the  streets  of  the  city.  Moss-grown,  rotten  columns,  bits  of  cornice, 
and  broken  capitals,  battered  and  defaced,  strew  each  nook  or 
corner,  and 'walking  through  these  streets  one  might  imagine  him 
self  in  a  modern  city,  built  upon  the  ruins  of  some  Palmyra,  and 
whose  inhabitants  are  just  waking  from  a  sleep  long  as  that  of  Rip 
Van  Winkle.  They  don't  seem,  either,  to  half  relish  the  unaccus 
tomed  stir  caused  by  this  influx  of  Yankee  enterprise.  Just  now  the 
place  is  like  a  hive.  The  streets  are  full  of  soldiers,  foot  and  horse ; 
long  trains  of  covered  government  wagons  trail  through  the  streets, 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT.  77 

their  unwieldy  wheels  making  a  huge  clatter  on  the  rough  pave 
ment,  the  drivers  screaming,  cursing  each  other  and  their  teams, 
and  cracking  their  long  whips.  These  are  constantly  coming  and 
going  from  and  to  the  camps  in  the  vicinity,  and  across  the  river, 
with  supplies.  Orderlies  and  staff  officers  gallop  through  the 
streets,  and  cluster  around  the  hotels,  and  the  irrepressible  darkey 
grins,  yah-yah's,  and  makes  himself  a  prominent  feature  everywhere. 

Among  the  regiments  here  is  the  "Garibaldi  Guard,"  made  up 
partly  of  Germans  and  Frenchmen,  and  principally  of  Italians,  from 
all  the  itinerant  professions  in  which  these  people  excel.  The 
number  of  organ  grinders  and  cast  peddlers  at  the  North  is  dimin 
ished  by  a  few  hundred,  and  they  seem  to  like  the  exchange  much, 
and  take  easily  to  the  semi-vagrant  life  of  the  soldier.  The  "  Fire 
Zouaves,"  too,  swagger  through  the  streets  in  their  picturesque 
costume,  looking,  with  their  shaved  heads  and  bronzed  faces,  like 
veritable  Turcos,  and  adding  quite  an  item  to  the  variety  which 
gives  our  capital  such  a  cosmopolitan  air. 

This  morning  I  visited  the  Capitol,  but  far  beyond  the  powers 
of  my  pen  is  a  description  of  its  internal  splendors.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  that  it  went  far  beyond  my  anticipations,  and,  to  be  appreciated 
in  all  its  magnificence,  must  be  seen.  I  ascended  to  the  top  of  the 
frame  work  upon  the  dome,  and  had  a  most  splendid  view  of  the 
city  and  surrounding  country.  I  could  see  our  advanced  posts  far 
away  in  Virginia,  and  the  river  clotted  with  various  crafts,  until 
below  Alexandria,  where  it  was  lost  in  the  distance.  I  could  hardly 
realize  the  fact  that  hostile  armies  were  almost  within  reach  of  my 
eye,  and  that  all  that  far  expanse  of  country  must  soon  be  the 
theatre  of  one  of  the  most  desperate  struggles  the  world  has  ever 
known.  But  so  it  is. 

I  then  visited  the  Treasury  Buildings  and  Patent  Office,  only 
next  to  the  Capitol  in  grandeur  of  design  and  finish,  and  worthy, 
especially  the  latter,  of  a  much  longer  visit.  Here  we  saw  the 
uniform  worn  by  Washington  at  his  resignation  of  the  command-in- 
chief,  and  the  sword  he  always  wore  in  battle,  an  antiquated  looking 
weapon,  evidently  of  oriental  make,  and  plain  enough  in  appearance. 
One  of  the  gentlemanly  attendants  was  so  kind  as  to  open  the 
cabinet  which  contained  it,  and  allowed  us  to  handle  the  sacred 
relic.  It  was  not  without  emotions  of  awe  and  reverence  that  I 
grasped  the  blade  the  hero's  hand  had  wielded,  and  then  how 
fervently  I  wished  that  hand  were  not  dust  to-day,  and  that  from  it 
this  blade  might  flash  once  more  defiance  to  the  foes  of  liberty. 


78  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

But  we  can  only  pray  that   his  mantle    may  fall  upon   some    one 
worthy  to  bear  it. 

At  one  o'clock  we  got  into  harness,  strapped  on  our  knapsacks, 
and  started  in  the  hot  sun  for  some  place  out  of  town  where  we  were 
to  encamp, — a  slight  disappointment,  as  we  had  hoped,  when  we 
did  move,  to  cross  the  river.  But  down  the  Avenue  we  went,  and 
then  up  Seventeenth  Street,  about  two  miles  out  of  town,  and  near 
Georgetown,  filed  off  through  a  large  gate  into  a  shady  avenue ; 
then  to  the  left  up  a  gentle  slope,  and  halted  on  the  highest  part  of 
an  open  plateau,  which  afforded  ample  room  for  camp  and  drill 
ground,  and  was  the  centre  of  a  grove,  or  rather  entirely  surrounded 
by  trees  and  shrubbery,  affording  delightful  lounging  places  for  us 
when  off  duty.  After  resting  until  the  ground  could  be  staked  out, 
we  pitched  our  tents.  This  spot  had  just  been  vacated  by  some 
Rhode  Island  regiment.  The  name  of  this  delightful  place,  then, 
is  Kalorama. 

June  22d. — Our  sentinels  were  stoned  last  night  from  across  a 
stream,  which  runs  at  the  foot  of  the  wooded  slope  behind  the 
camp,  a  demonstration  of  the  sentiments  of  some  of  the  people  we 
have  come  to  protect,  from  what,  they  hardly  realize.  Although 
not  so  intended  by  them, — and  a  very  poor  policy,  too,  for  it  does 
us  no  considerable  hurt,  while  if  they  kept  cover  they  might  do  us 
infinite  harm,  as  unsuspected  spies, — this  is  a  warning,  and  already 
I  hear  that  nightly  patrols  are  to  beat  the  neighborhood,  lie  in  wait, 
and  watch  for  any  signals  or  other  suspicious  demonstrations,  and 
arrest  any  suspicious  persons  who  cannot  give  a  good  account  of 
themselves. 

We  like  our  camping  ground  the  more  as  we  become  acquainted 
with  its  attractions.  Among  the  first  of  these  is  a  "living"  spring* 
of  purest  water,  which  wells  up  among  the  rocks  in  a  delightful 
grove  near  the  gate,  and  this  grove  is  already  the  favorite  haunt  of 
the  boys  during  the  hot  hours  when  off  duty.  So  famous  is  our 


*  From  a  recent  letter  written  by  one  of  the  field  officers  of  the  Twenty-First  Regiment,  we  derive 
the  following  remarkably  interesting  historical  reminiscence  of  Kalorama,  the  spot  upon  which  our 
regiment  was  first  encamped,  upon  its  arrival  at  Washington  : 

"  This  is  a  place  of  considerable  note  in  the  history  of  our  country,  although  not  celebrated  by 
historians.  It  is  the  ground  on  which  Washington  encamped,  previous  to  the  investment  of  York- 
town.  One  little  incident  in  connection  with  that  encampment:  On  his  approach  to  Kalorama, 
when  about  four  miles  from  the  camp,  the  General  observed  a  darkey,  a  servant  of  one  of  the  captains, 
(named  "Jim,"  of  course.)  who  had  become  very  foot-sore  and,  tired  with  the  day's  march.  His 
master  paid  no  attention  to  his  complaints  ;  but  when  General  Washington  observed  the  exhausted 
condition  of  the  negro,  he  rode  along  to  his  side,  questioned  him  as  to  the  cause  of  his  distress,  and 
then  jumped  from  his  horse,  seized  "  Jim  "  by  the  back  of  his  neck  and  seat  of  his  trowsers,  threw 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  79 

spring  that  men  come  from  the  neighboring  camps  to  fill  their 
canteens,  and  sometimes  such  a  crowd  surround  it  that  one  must 
wait  long  for  his  chance.  The  sluggish  stream  below  affords  quite 
a  g-ood  bathing-  place,  and  there  we  assemble  with  soap  and  towels 
for  our  morning  wash.  About  sixty  men  are  detailed  daily  for 
guard  duty,  and  the  line  surrounds  the  camp  entirely,  so  that  to 
leave  its  limits  one  must  have  the  proper  permission  from  its  officers. 

All  are  expecting,  and  indeed  it  is  quite  probable  that  we  shall 
receive  orders  to  march  in  a  day  or  two,  possibly  for  Fairfax  Court 
House,  and  if  we  do  it  will  be  to  fight.  We  have  this  morning 
heard  cannonading  toward  the  South,  and  our  officers  caution  us  to 
be  ready  to  go  at  a  moment's  warning.  The  enemy's  outposts  are 
said  to  be  about  nine  miles  off,  and  we  expect  to  be  sent  out  upon 
picket  duty. 

June  26th. — No  orders  yet.  Last  night  we  had  quite  a  lively 
time  in  camp.  Some  apprehensions  have  been  felt  concerning  the 
state  of  things  in  Georgetown,  and  a  couple  of  days  since  the  Mayor 
of  the  place  requested  our  Colonel  to  keep  a  small  force  in  readiness 
in  case  of  a  rising  there.  Two  companies,  therefore,  ("  C "  and 
"  D,"J  have  orders  to  sleep  with  their  clothes  on  and  arms  in  readi 
ness  for  instant  duty.  Last  night  at  twelve,  the  entire  regiment 
were  roused  by  the  firing-  of  the  sentinels,  commenced  at  the  exposed 
posts  along  the  stream  I  have  mentioned,  and  immediately  each 
company  formed  in  its  street,  and  moved  quickly  to  the  parade 
ground.  All  was  "  dark  as  pitch,"  and  the  flashes  from  the  muskets 
of  excited  sentinels,  who  were  blazing  away  into  the  woods  in  all 
directions,  only  made  it  more  intense.  "  Load,  men,"  said  the 
Colonel,  and  the  jangling  of  rammers  and  clicking  of  locks  along 
the  line  was  succeeded  by  a  silence  which  said  "  we  are  ready." 


him  bodily  upon  the  horse,  and  ran  forward  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  his  protestations.  One  ot  Jim's 
descendants,  an  old  gray-headed  negro,  once  told  me  of  this  circumstance,  and  the  family  have  been, 
and  still  are,  among  the  bloods  of  niggerdom,  from  this  one  fact  in  connection  with  their  history. 

"There  is  another  fact  about  this  place,  which  makes  it  of  still  greater  interest  to  me.  At  the 
time  when  Washington  took  command  of  the  army  at  Cambridge,  there  was  a  regiment  raised  near 
here  in  Virginia,  and  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Kalorama  till  the  regimental  organization  could  be 
perfected.  When  they  got  ready  to  march  to  join  the  army,  one  company,  commanded  by  a  Captain 
Baden  or  Boden,  lingered  behind  the  balance  of  the  regiment,  and  gathered  around  the  spring  near 
the  entrance  of  the  grounds.  Here  each  took  an  oath,  and  pledged  himself  to  his  comrades,  that 
whoever  of  the  party  should  be  alive  fifty  years  from  that  day,  would  meet  at  the  camp  spring.  The 
time  came  round,  and  three  old  and  decrepid  men  met  on  that  spot,  the  sole  survivors  of  the 
company  that  fifty  years  before  had  promised  there  to  meet.  The  present  owner  of  the  estate,  a  Mr. 
Fletcher,  witnessed  that  meeting  of  three,  and  he  told  me  himself  that  it  was  the  most  affecting  scene 
he  had  ever  witnessed.  On  this  ground  Commodore  Decatur  and  Baron  fought  their  celebrated 
duel.  There  are  also  buried  on  this  same  historical  ground,  two  of  the  original  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  Their  names  I  have  forgotten."- — Buffalo  Express,  Aug.  fsf,  iSbi . 


80  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Meantime  squads  were  scouring  the  vicinity,  investigating  the  alarm, 
and  feeling  through  the  darkness  for  its  cause.  But  no  further  trace 
of  the  attacking  party  could  be  found,  and  upon  investigation  it 
appeared  that  a  few  stones  fired  at  the  guard  on  the  creek,  had 
provoked  them  to  return  the  favor  with  lead.  Instantly  the  whole 
line  took  up  the  gauntlet.  Every  bush,  log  or  stone,  was  instinct 
with  life  and  fancied  terrors.  Boughs  crawled  and  squirmed  along 
the  ground,  seeking  deadly  cover  from  which  to  draw  certain  aim 
upon  the  startled  sentinel,  who  hastened  to  be  beforehand  with  his 
skulking  foe,  and  then  felt  his  heart  beat  heavy  as  he  seemed  to 
hear  the  last  sigh  of  his  victim, — very  much  like  the  wind  rustling 
through  the  bushes.  One  of  the  poor  fellows  hailed  the  relief  with 
"  I've  killed  him!  Oh,  I've  killed  him!  out  there"  A  search  of 
the  place  indicated  revealed  no  weltering  assassin,  but  next  morning 
a  stump  barked  and  chipped  with  bullets,  showed  how  one  would 
have  fared  in  its  place. 

Outlying  parties  will  hereafter  prevent  these  sallies,  and  when 
we  are  again  aroused  it  will  probably  be  with  good  cause.  The 
story  of  this  seemingly  occasionless  alarm  may  excite  some  ridicule 
at  home,  but  let  those  laugh  who  have  tried  the  thing,  and  we  won't 
murmur.  Let  it  be  remembered  that  we  have  heard  that  of  our 
surroundings  here  which  ought  to  make  us  watchful.  Men  have 
been  shot  at  night  on  these  very  posts,  as  we  were  told  by  the 
regiment  last  here,  and  with  the  recollection  of  such  narratives  fresh 
in  his  memory,  a  man  may  be  excused  for  believing  the  conjurings 
of  his  imagination,  prompted  by  darkness  and  possible  danger. 
A  little  more  experience  will  teach  him  to  wait  for  the  certainty  of 
its  necessity,  before  giving  an  alarm. 

It  is  a  fact  difficult  to  credit,  but  both  Washington  and  George 
town  are  full  of  secessionists,  and  nearly  every  night  our  scouts  are 
known  to  report  this  one  proof  of  the  fact,  that  lights,  evidently— 
from  their  arrangement  and  the  time  and  manner  of  their  appear 
ance, — intended  as  signals,  are  shown  occasionally  from  various 
points.  These  are  so  managed  as  not  to  be  visible  in  their  immedi 
ate  neighborhood,  and  of  course  it  is  an  almost  hopeless  undertaking 
to  attempt  to  find  the  parties  thus  giving  aid  to  our  enemies.  Yet 
the  scouts  are  numerous  and  watchful,  and  some  of  these  traitors 
may  yet  have  an  opportunity  of  stretching  hemp  as  an  example  to 
sneaks. 

Yesterday  a  man  was  taken  while  attemtping  to  cross  the 
Potomac  below  the  Long'  Bridge,  in  a  small  boat.  Some  suspicion 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  8l 

induced  the  officers  in  charge  of  the  bridge  to  cause  his  arrest.  On 
his  person  were  found  plans  of  all  the  encampments  around  Wash 
ington,  ours  among  the  rest,  and  a  report  as  to  the  number  and 
condition  of  the  men,  how  armed,  by  whom  commanded,  and  also 
several  letters,  some  of  them  addressed  to  a  well  known  lawyer  of 
this  place.  He  was  put  in  irons  and  confined,  for  what  fate  we  can 
imagine. 

There  are  some  slight  indications  of  dissatisfaction  among  the 
men,  confined,  however,  to  a  certain  set  who  seem  to  care  little  for 
the  cause  they  have  espoused.  At  least  I  judge  such  to  be  the 
case,  or  they  would  be  ashamed  to  murmur  at  the  little  privations 
we  have  to  endure  here.  The  more  reasonable  find  cause  for 
wonder  at  the  prompt  and  comparatively  plentiful  and  excellent 
provision  made  by  the  government  at  so  short  notice,  and  with  its 
hampered  resources.  After  all,  I  think  the  chief  ground  of  com 
plaint  is  that  we  are  kept  back  here.  An  order  to  march  just  now 
would  make  all  contented. 

Thanks  to  the  excellent  care  of  our  Surgeons,  we  are  compara 
tively  free  from  fevers  or  other  sickness  usual  to  the  change  of 
climate  we  have  made.  A  few  cases  of  ague  and  fever  we  have, 
and  now  and  then  one  of  those  resulting  from  unlimited  indulgence 
in  the  unwholesome  stuff  vended  by  the  peddlers  who  frequent  the 
camp.  Upon  the  whole,  I  think  the  general  health  of  the  regiment 
is  better  then  when  at  Elmira.  We  have  two  cases  of  gun-shot 
wounds,  both  accidental.  One  promises  to  be  serious,  that  of 
William  J.  Cook,  of  Black  Rock,  belonging  to  Capt  Strong's 
Company,  who  was  wounded  in  the  cars  near  Baltimore,  by  the 
accidental  discharge  of  a  musket  in  the  hands  of  a  comrade. 
Fayette  Warriner,  of  "  B,"  was  hurt  in  the  same  way  during  the 
last  night's  alarm. 

Adjutant  Sternberg  met  with  an  adventure  this  morning,  which 
might  have  been  very  serious  in  its  consequences  to  him,  as  well  as 
depriving  us  of  a  good  officer,  one  of  a  kind  not  easily  spared.  Our 
Colonel  and  Lieut. -Colonel  being  unwell,  the  command  for  the  day 
devolved  upon  Major  Drew.  The  adjutant  rides  a  very  spirited 
horse,  and  just  as  he  was  leaving  camp  with  the  usual  morning 
report  for  General  Mansfield,  a  fragment  of  newspaper,  blown  about 
by  the  wind,  made  a  sudden  sally  from  under  a  wagon,  upon  the 
flank  of  our  unexpectant  rider.  Whether  the  result  of  a  feint,  or  a 
combination  of  equine  movements  not  laid  down  in  any  tactics,  and 
unfamiliar  to  our  Adjutant,  we  say  not,  but  somehow  horse  and  he 


82  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

parted  company.  Alighting  on  one's  head  and  shoulders  from  a 
somewhat  elevated  starting  point,  and  especially  when  that  kind  of 
contact  with  mother  earth  is  aided  by  the  momentum  acquired  in 
two  or  three  distinct  gyrations  between  saddle  and  sod,  cannot  fail 
to  cause  some  disturbance  in  the  toughest  of  heads.  It  is  not 
slander  to  say  that  the  Adjutant  came  up  slightly  "groggy."  It  is 
not  unjust  to  declare  that  he  was  somewhat  "  demoralized."  But 
here  we  stop,  without,  indeed,  adding  the  charge  of  profanity,  for 
that  was  natural  and  to  be  expected.  So  the  enemy  retired  in  good 
order,  and  magnanimously  allowed  his  victim  to  regain  his  com 
posure  and  his  horse. 

Shortly  afterward  our  boys  had  an  opportunity  of  spotting  one 
of  those  dirty  things, — a  rebel  sympathizer, — one  of  that  class, 
whose  title  to  our  detestation  consists  in  their  being  not  the  one 
thing,  and  a  great  deal  worse  than  the  other, — men  who  have  not 
the  manhood  to  sacrifice  all  interests  to  their  principles,  for  even 
when  those  are  a  mistake  and  crime,  if  sincerity  be  with  them,  they 
are  entitled  to  some  respect.  But  these  things  who  remain  where 
none  but  loyal  men  should  be,  and  whose  virulent  hatred  of  the 
right  sometimes  rises  from  the  depth  of  its  dark  plottings  to 
something  like  a  semblance  of  honest  expressions,  deserve  none  of 
the  courtesies  of  war.  Justice,  in  dealing  with  them,  should  forget 
her  sword  and  substitute  a  rope.  One  of  these  creatures  so  far 
forgot  himself  this  morning,  as  to  air  his  sentiments  in  the  hearing 
of  certain  of  our  men.  Bad  whisky  committed  treason  toward  this 
traitor,  and  is  therefore  entitled  to  credit  for  one  good  thing.  He 
vaunted  the  bravery  of  the  men  of  the  South,  declared  the 
Northerners  a  pack  of  cowards  who  would  be  glad  to  get  home  safe 
after  one  fair  trial,  and  wound  up  by  declaring  himself  a  strong 
secessionist.  That  was  enough.  To  his  astonishment  and  disgust, 
Corporal  Harper,  of"  F,"  took  him  by  the  hair,  and  led  him  to  the 
guard-house,  and  neither  his  Southern  blood  nor  the  whisky  he 
had  taken  could  fire  this  specimen  of  the  chivalry  to  one  effort  in 
self  defence.  His  little  darkey,  team,  and  wagon,  immediately  left 
for  parts  unknown,  and  by  this  time,  probably,  these  items  of 
personal  property  have  merged  into  one, — the  darkey, — and  he 
will  be  in  no  haste  to  render  an  account  of  his  stewardship.  When 
taken  before  the  Colonel  for  examination,  our  spunky  Southerner 
declared  his  right  to  his  own  opinions,  and  a  free  ventilation  of  the 
same ;  but  as  the  Colonel  could  not  agree  with  him,  and  told  him 
furthermore,  that  if  he  persisted  in  such  talk  the  boys  might  take  a 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  83 

fancy  to  ornament  some  convenient  tree  with  his  pendant  carcase, 
his  noisy  valor  dwindled  to  a  very  becoming  discretion.  Finally, 
he  was  started  off  under  a  guard  for  the  city,  Gen.  Mansfield  having 
nice  ways  of  his  own  for  scotching  these  vipers. 

Camp  life  is  getting  easier  for  us.  Between  the  wearing  off  of 
novelty,  and  the  ease  acquired  by  being  perfectly  inured,  there  must 
be  an  interval  when  some  fortitude  shall  be  needed  under  a  soldier's 
privations.  This  interval  we  are  now  passing,  and  I  am  happy  to 
observe  that  our  men  generally  show  no  lack  of  that  fortitude. 
Yet  there  are  unworthy  exceptions. 

July  3d. — To-day,  Lieut.  Adams,  our  State  paymaster  estab 
lished  himself  in  a  shanty  back  of  the  Colonel's  tent,  and  the  hearts 
of  our  needy  fellows  were  gladdened  by  the  settlement  of  their 
accounts  with  the  State  of  New  York.  The  pay  due  for  the  time  we 
were  in  the  State  service,  from  May  gth  to  igth  inclusive,  amounted 
to  but  four  dollars  and  three  cents,  but  even  that  sum,  paltry,  as  it 
seems,  is  a  godsend  to  those  of  our  boys  who,  as  Private  Britton 
says,  ''have  worn  their  pockets  out  feeling  for  a  piece."  This 
afternoon,  in  spite  of  the  increased  precautions  against  smuggling, 
some  whisky  has  evidently  effected  an  entrance  into  camp,  and  the 
guard  line  has  not  proved  as  efficient  as  usual.  An  unusual  influx 
of  irregular  sutlers,  too,  and  the  thousand  varieties  of  the  harpy 
tribe,  who  smell  a  pay-day  afar  off,  come  swarming  about  the  camp, 
and  this  modicum  of  pocket  money  will  very  soon  change  hands. 

It  is  a  fact,  no  longer  to  be  ignored,  that  a  dangerous  element 
of  insubordination  is  rife  among  some  of  the  men.  They  claim 
undue  liberty,  and  are  loud  in  their  complaints,  cursing  the  fare  and 
the  restrictions  necessary  to  discipline.  Some  of  these  have  written 
home  such  statements  of  matters  here,  as  will  cause  great  uneasiness 
among  our  friends.*  These  are  only  worthy  of  notice  in  proportion 
to  the  harm  they  will  do,  and  I  should  much  prefer  to  ignore  them 
altogether,  but  truth  demands  that  they  be  spoken  of.  On  the 


*As  to  the  complaints  made  concerning  the  meagre  rations,  they  are  unjust  to  our  Quarter 
master,  who  has  discharged  the  onerous  duties  of  his  position  with  a  perseverance  which  does  him 
credit,  and  but  for  which  we  should  surely  suffer.  Every  day,  each  company,  of  74  men,  receives 
either  55  pounds  8  ounces  of  pork  or  bacon,  or  92  pounds  8  ounces  of  fresh  beef;  74  i8-ounce  loaves 
of  bread  ;  5  quarts  7  gills  of  beans,  or  7  pounds  6  ounces  of  rice  ;  the  same  weight  of  coffee  ;  1 1  pounds 
i  ounce  of  white  sugar  ;  2  quarts  and  i  gill  of  vinegar;  i  quart  and  5  gills  of  salt ;  2  pounds  and  15 
ounces  of  soap  ;  and  12  ounces  of  candles.  All  of  these  articles  are  of  the  very  best  quality.  By 
disposing  of  the  surplus,  each  company  is  enabled  to  make  a  fund  for  the  purchase  of  vegetables  and 
other  accustomed  comforts  and  luxuries.  Here  is  an  instance:  on  the  i2th,  Co.  "  H  "  sold  out  of 
ten  days'  rations,  pork,  &c.,  amounting  to  six  dollars, — enough  to  buy  a  plentiful  supply  of  vegetables 
for  that  time. 


84  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

other  hand  there  are  some  incompetent  and  unworthy  men  in 
authority.  The  only  way  is  to  bear  all  petty  grievances  of  this 
nature,  and  wait  patiently  for  time  and  service  to  sift  out  or  soften 
down  all  these.  There  are  in  this,  as  in  all  other  commands,  men 
who  enlisted  from  any  but  worthy  motives.  These  are  tired  of  the 
service,  anxious  to  get  out  of  it,  and  determined  to  do  so  on  the 
first  opportunity.  For  their  actions  none  but  themselves  are 
responsible,  but  they  don't  end  there.  If  they  persist  in  them  they 
will  hopelessly  disgrace  the  regiment.  As  to  our  camp  discipline, 
these  very  men  who  complain  are  the  cause  of  its  being  so  strict. 

Our  drill  is  necessarily  hard,  preparing  as  we  are  for  immediate 
active  service.  For  nearly  two  weeks  past  we  have  drilled  in 
batallion  two  hours,  from  five  to  seven,  in  the  morning  ;  then,  after 
breakfast,  company  drill  from  ten  till  twelve ;  and  after  dinner,  from 
two  till  four.  The  intervals  we  pass  in  the  shade,  stripped, — officers 
and  all, — to  our  underclothing,  and  even  then  the  heat  is  almost 
unbearable.  At  eight  in  the  morning  it  is  like  a  summer  noon,  such 
as  we  have  been  accustomed  to,  and  four  o'clock  is  the  heat  of  the 
day.  After  dress  parade  we  usually  have  another  drill  in  batallion, 
which  lasts  till  dark. 

A  re-inspection  of  the  regiment  has  lately  been  in  progress,  in 
accordance  with  the  following  General  Order  from  the  General  in 
command  of  the  Department  of  Washington  : 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  WASHINGTON. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C,  May  iyth,  1861. 
General  Order  No.  25. 

It  being  represented  that  under  the  fervor  of  the  moment,  many  patriotic  persons 
have  enrolled  themselves  in  the  volunteer  regiments,  independent  batallions  and 
companies,  who  are  physically  incompetent,  by  reason  of  disease,  malformations  and 
other  infirmities,  as  well  as  by  non-age,  to  perform  the  rough  duties  of  soldiers,  the 
commandants  of  all  such  corps  will,  carefully  assisted  by  the  medical  officers  of  the 
same,  re-inspect  their  men,  and  report  for  orders  to  discharge  every  individual  in  ill 
health,  or  found  too  feeble  for  the  service. 

By  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  Mansfield. 

THEO.  TALBOT. 

Asst.  Adjutant-  General. 

Not  only  was  the  inspection  at  Elmira  insufficiently  rigid, 
perhaps,  but  the  warm  climate  and  other  causes,  since  the  removal 
of  the  regiment  to  Washington,  have  in  some  instances  developed 
complaints  and  physical  weaknesses  which  were  undiscovered 
before.  That  the  rigid  inspection  now  instituted  does  not  throw 
out  a  greater  number  of  men  than  is  indicated  by  the  following  list, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  85 

shows  that  the  regiment  was  made  up  of  pretty  robust  material : 
Co.  "  A  "—Sergeant  Wm.  H.  Williams.  Co.  "  B  "—Private  George 
W.  Owen.  Co.  "C" — Privates  James  P.  Hoffman,  Wm.  Archer, 
Luther  G.  Woodward.  Co.  l>  D " — Privates  Daniel  Morrison, 
Napoleon  Lamere,  Jacob  Shick,  George  Duer,  Horace  Firman, 
Felix  K.  Mayburn.  Co.  "E" — Privates  Jas.  Milham,  Harry 
Beebee.  Co.  "  F  "  —Privates  William  D.  Lucas,  Chas.  E.  Holman, 
— discharged  at  Elmira.  Co.  "G" — Privates  John  W.  Hughes, 
Nelson  Wade,  D.  J.  Barrows.  Co.  "  K  "—Privates  Royal  Colby, 
Joseph  Reid.  Co.  "  I  " — Privates  John  Myers,  John  Freymiller, 
Edward  McGowan. 

Sometimes  we  have  tremendous  thunder  storms,  when  the  rain 
comes  down  in  torrents,  and  woe  to  him  who  has  neglected  to  have 
his  tent  properly  ditched.  One  night  we  awoke  to  find  the  water 
making  a  clean  sweep  across  the  floor  of  our  tent.  We  were  not 
tired  enough  to  sleep  in  it,  so  we  sallied  out  with  bayonets,  knives, 
hatchets,  any  thing  handy,  and  tried  by  ditching  to  persuade  part 
of  the  water  to  take  another  direction.  Unacquainted  with  the 
proper  manner  of  doing  the  thing,  our  efforts  were  chiefly  successful 
in  directing  small  rivers  under  neighboring  tents,  whose  occupants, 
in  their  turn,  would  bank  it  out  and  turn  it  over  to  some  one  else. 
The  night  was  passed  in  these  efforts,  and  next  day  ditching  was 
reduced  to  a  system.  A  deep  ditch  on  each  side  of  the  company 
street,  and  one  around  each  tent,  made  a  future  invasion  of  the 
waters  impossible. 

July  8th. — Last  night  we  were  ordered  to  pack  knapsacks  and 
be  ready  for  a  march.  We  have  been  expecting  a  move  for  two 
weeks,  and  it  must  come  soon.  Last  night  we  heard  distant 
cannonading  across  the  river,  and  have  news  to-day  of  a  fight  near 
Fairfax  Court  House.  The  guard  is  now  increased  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty  men,  and  no  one  allowed  to  leave  camp  but  the  Colonel. 
Probably  our  march  will  be  in  the  night.  Our  place  is  in  the  centre 
(Gen.  McDowell's)  division,  and  our  brigade  is  the  second, 
commanded  by  Col.  Davis,  of  the  U.  S.  Army.  It  is  cheering  to 
see  the  changed  demeanor  of  the  men  under  these  prospects  ^of 
speedy  service.  No  more  grumbling,  nothing  heard  but  expressions 
of  satisfaction  and  mutual  congratulations. 

Last  Thursday  being  the  eighty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  birth 
ot  American  Freedom,  was  fitly  celebrated  with  us  by  a  review 
of  the  troops  in  Washington  and  vicinity.  Over  twenty  thousand 
patriots  roused  at  reveille  on  that  day,  and  prepared  to  do  and 


86  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

appear  their  best,  as  Gen.  Scott  himself,  with  his  staff,  the  President 
and  his  Cabinet,  were  to  witness  the  parade.  Determined  to 
continue  to  deserve  the  encomiums  so  often  lavished  upon  their 
soldierly  appearance,  the  boys  outdid  their  previous  efforts  in 
elaborate  preparation.  Every  knapsack  was  neatly  packed,  and 
care  taken  to  make  them  of  uniform  dimensions,  and  every  article 
of  uniform  neatly  brushed,  belts  and  boots  polished  to  the  last 
degree,  and  buttons  and  brass  plates  made  to  glitter  under  a 
vigorous  application  of  brush  and  chalk.  The  muskets,  too,  shone 
like  silver,  and  were  clean  to  that  degree  that  our  gloves  of  unsullied 
white  need  fear  no  blemish  from  their  contact. 

I  think  I  may  say  without  vanity  that  our  regiment  appeared 
splendidly.  I  know  that  we  never  did  better.  As  we  wheeled  into 
the  Avenue  I  heard  many  complimentary  remarks  from  the  crowd, 
and  my  Captain,  as  he  faced  us  while  wheeling,  exclaimed 
delightedly,  "  Bully,  boys,  Bully." 

In  passing  the  stand  in  front  of  the  White  House,  although 
every  head  was  steadily  to  the  front,  some  could  not  resist  a  furtive 
glance  at  our  noble  old  Commander-in-chief  as  he  stood  up  in  front, 
the  President  by  his  side,  and  looking,  in  his  favorite  cocked  hat 
and  golden  epaulettes,  like  the  impersonation  of  the  glorious  past, 
of  which  he  is  a  relic.  He  was  scanning  with  eagle  eye,  a  calm 
satisfaction  glowing  in  his  honest  old  tace,  the  passing  ranks  so 
proudly  conscious  of  his  gaze.  May  God  spare  him  in  our  time 
of  need,  and  when  -that  time  is  past,  may  he  live  long  in  the  hearts 
of  the  nation. 

July  nth. — No  move  yet.  This  morning  at  seven  we  fell  in 
and  were  marched  through  the  city  to  the  Arsenal,  our  errand  being 
to  exchange  our  old  muskets  for  others  of  a  later  make, — Harper's 
Ferry,  1852.  The  new  ones  are  not  much  better,  however,  than 
the  old,  except  in  appearance,  and  we  are  told  that  we  shall  only 
keep  these  until  rifles  can  be  procured. 

One  has  only  to  walk  through  the  grounds  surrounding  the 
Arsenal  to  see  the  immense  preparations  in  progress  for  arming  the 
Federal  forces.  Everywhere  they  are  obstructed  by  accumulations 
of  guns,  carriages  and  caissons,  piles  of  balls  and  shell,  and  all  the 
murderous  apparatus  required  in  the  vigorous  and  successful 
prosecution  of  "glorious  war."  Guns  of  immense  calibre  are  piled 
here,  or  lie  quietly  side  by  side,  as  if  as  yet  unconscious  of  their 
terrors.  Some  of  them  are  mounted  on  the  water's  edge,  and  seem 


TWENTY- FIRST     REGIMENT.  87 

staring  with  blank,  stolid  eye  away  down  the  river,  to  where  hostile 
batteries  even  now  obstruct  the  freedom  of  the  waters. 

From  this  point  the  new  pieces  are  tested,  targets  being  placed 
in  the  river  a  couple  of  miles  below. 

Here,  too,  are  seen  a  number  of  old  pieces,  trophies  of  the 
different  engagements  in  which  they  were  captured.  Some  of  these, 
of  peculiar  make  and  elaborately  engraved,  are  from  Mexico. 
Dismounted,  robbed  of  their  terrors,  like  a  group  of  superannuated 
pensioners,  they  pass  a  harmless  old  age  in  prating  of  the  days  gone 
by.  In  the  wind,  their  battered  muzzles  are  ever  sighing  over 
reminiscences  of  fields  lost  and  won,  and  if  you  listen  closely,  you 
may  hear  in  their  hollow  murmurings,  like  echoes  from  far  off 
battle  fields,  the  faint,  thought-like  repetition  of  their  unforgotten 
thunders.  Glorious  days  when  Scott  was  young,  may  you  yet  find 
renewal  in  his  sere  and  yellow  leaf! 


88  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


CHAPTER  I  V. 

We  cross  the  Potomac. — Fort  Runyon. — An  advance  ot  the  Army. — The  fight  at  Bull  Run. — What 
we  saw  at  Fort  Runyon,  the  day  after. — The  defence  of  Washington. — An  interval  of  quiet. — 
Strengthening  our  position. — The  2oth  of  August,  and  what  occurred. — Fort  Jackson. — The 
Advance. — Camp  Buffalo. — Picket  Duty. 

Ar  my  last  writing  we  were  expecting  orders,  having  been  noti 
fied  that  we  were  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  march 
at  a  moment's  notice.  These  orders  were  repeated  on  the  I3th,  and 
on  Sunday,  the  i-j-th,  while  we  were  preparing  for  services,  the 
orders  came.  In  a  twinkling  the  camp  was  alive  with  the  bustle  of 
preparation.  Blankets  and  overcoats  were  rolled,  and  knapsacks 
packed,  and  all  the  miscellaneous  "  traps  "  bundled  into  transport 
able  shape.  At  twelve  o'clock  a  train  of  twenty-five  baggage 
wagons  filed  into  the  grounds,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  every  tent 
was  struck,  rolled  round  its  poles — most  of  the  boys  managing  to 
smuggle  their  surplus  clothing  into  the  folds — and  with  the  other 
luggage,  piled  into  the  wagons. 

We  then  formed  in  line,  and  taking  a  "  last  fond  look"  at  the 
spot  grown  so  familiar  to  us,  we  slowly  filed  out  at  the  gate,  the 
baggage  fell  in  the  rear,  and  the  most  skeptical  were  convinced 
that  the  long  wished  for  and  promised  march  was  at  last  before  us. 
But  neither  Manassas  nor  Fairfax,  as  we  shortly  learned,  was  to  be 
our  present  destination,  but  a  certain  Fort  Runyon,  which  no  one 
seemed  to  know  where  to  locate,  and  which  we  therefore  fondly 
hoped  was  somewhere  within  the  actual  tramping  ground  of  "  ye 
rebels." 

It  was  quite  a  warm  day,  and  we  all  felt  thankful  that  we 
hadn't  to  carry  our  knapsacks,  which  had  providentially  found 
room  in  the  wagons ;  so  we  jogged  along  at  an  easy  pace,  songs, 
jokes  arid  laughter  enlivening  our  way,  and  all  "  happy  as  clams  " 
at  being  again  on  the  move.  At  the  Long  Bridge  we  were  joined 
by  squads  of  the  boys  who  had  been  passing  the  day  in  Washing 
ton.  Most  of  these  had  run  the  guard  to  get  away,  but  were 
forgiven  in  view  of  the  eagerness  they  had  shown  in  their  efforts 
not  to  be  left  behind. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  89 

The  bridge,  already  famous  in  telegraph  reports,  is  about  a 
mile  in  length,  one  half  being  a  sort  of  causeway,  and  the  rest  an 
ordinary  frame  and  plank  structure,  resting  on  stone  abutments. 
Near  the  Virginia  shore  is  a  draw,  through  which  the  river  craft 
pass  to  and  from  the  anchorage  at  Georgetown.  It  is  guarded  at 
present  by  regulars.  From  here,  although  not  one  of  great 
variety,  the  scene  is  delightful.  To  the  right,  away  toward  the 
Chain  Bridge,  the  hills,  beautifully  blue,  span  the  distance,  while 
across  the  quiet,  glittering  waters,  the  low  Virginia  shore  is  fringed 
with  richest  foliage.  Away  beyond  the  bend  of  the  river  on  the 
other  hand,  are  seen  the  bare  ridges  of  "  My  Maryland,"  and  the 
blue  sky  mirror  between  is  dotted  with  sharply  picked  out  sails, 
glowing  in  the  light  of  the  westering  sun. 

Leaving  the  bridge  about  half  a  mile  behind,  we  were  marched 
through  a  stockade  which  extended  across  the  road,  and  halted. 
This  was  Fort  Runyon.  "  What  a  fall  was  there,  my  country 
men  !  "  To  start  with  one's  energies  screwed  up  to  anticipated 
days  and  nights  of  forced  marching,  pleasantly  diversified  with  a 
little  fight  now  and  then,  and  by  and  by  a  big  one,  or  at  least  with 
sky  tinted  bivouacs  and  picket  duty ;  and  then  to  have  to  come 
down  to  eight  miles  and  a  fort  at  the  end.  Shades  of  Valley 
Forge,  smile  not!  We  emulate  your  trials,  and  may  yet  suffer 
gloriously.  In  the  meantime,  let  us  be  comfortable  while  we  may. 

So,  after  a  rest  and  a  council  of  the  leading  minds,  we  stacked 
arms,  unloaded  the  wagons,  and  proceeded  to  pitch  our  tents  upon 
a  vacant  spot  of  about  three  acres  in  the  centre.  While  we  were 
doing  this  twilight  came  on,  arid  we  had  hardly  finished  when  night 
closed  in  on  us.  Lights  gleamed  all  over  the  miniature  city,  which 
had  risen  round  us  as  if  by  magic.  Against  the  red  glow  which 
sunset  had  left  in  the  western  sky,  the  black  masses  of  entrench 
ments  rose  in  boldest  relief,  broken  only  here  and  there  by  the 
forms  of  the  slow  pacing  sentinels  between  the  heavy  guns,  which 
loomed  up  grimly  as  if  watching  for  an  expected  foe.  By  and  by 
all  grew  still,  and  at  the  tap  of  the  drum  the  lights  went  out,  and 
the  boys  of  the  Twenty-first  rolled  themselves  in  their  blankets, 
and  sought  repose — "  laid  them  down  to  pleasant  dreams,"  of  glory 
on  the  "  tented  field."  And  thus  passed  our  first  night  in  Virginia. 

Next  morning  all  were  astir  at  an  early  hour,  and  intent  on 
examining  all  accessible  parts  of  the  fortifications.  I  will  describe 
them.  They  are  laid  out  so  as  to  encircle  the  intersection  of  the 
Arlington  and  Alexandria  roads,  near  the  bridge.  Where  the  roads 


90  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

cut  through  the  works  they  are  stockaded,  and  a  strong-  stockade 
commands  the  marsh  between  us  and  the  river.  Elsewhere  they 
are  substantial  earthworks,  laid  out  in  the  most  scientific  manner. 
These  are  the  same  commenced  by  the  Seventh  New  York,  and 
nearly  completed  by  Runyon's  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  On  the 
south  and  west  they  rise  to  quite  a  commanding  height,  and  al 
together  cover  an  area  of  about  twelve  acres.  They  are  mounted 
with  heavy  cannon,  principally  thirty-two  and  sixty-four  pound 
pieces,  on  barbette  carriages, — one  fine  rifled  piece  of  the  former 
calibre  commanding  the  approach  from  Alexandria.  The  position 
commands  the  bridge  and  river,  as  well  as  the  country  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Fairfax. 

July  i6th. — This  afternoon  a  continuous  line  of  troops  has  been 
passing  through  here.  A  rifled  piece  and  a  regiment  of  light  in 
fantry  came  in  from  the  west  of  us,  and  took  the  road  to  Alexandria, 
and  several  regiments  came  across  the  bridge,  and  took  the  road 
toward  the  west.  They  belong  to  McDowell's  division, —  in  which 
we  are  included, —  and  went  in  the  following  order:  First,  the  2d 
Rhode  Island  Regiment,  with  six  brass  field  pieces  ;  next,  the  ist 
Regiment  from  the  same  State,  the  2d  New  Hampshire,  and  yist 
New  York  Regiments, —  the  last  with  two  brass  howitzers;  then  a 
detachment  of  U.  S.  Marines,  the  Union  (Rochester)  Regiment,  and 
last,  the  DeKalb  (German)  Regiment  of  New  York.  They  did  not 
know  their  destination,  but  supposed  they  were  going  to  Fairfax, 
and  it  is  reported  among  our  men  that  we  are  to  follow  immediately. 

July  25th. — A  great  battle  has  been  fought,  and  the  field  is  not 
ours.  Fondly  as  we  hoped  that  this  first  great  issue  might  turn  in 
our  favor,  dearly,  as  its  thinned  ranks  to-day  testify  to  the  will  of 
our  brave  little  army,  the  day  is  lost,  and  a  nation  mourns  the  thou 
sands  of  her  sons  sleeping  now  their  long  sleep,  where  hostile  feet 
tramp  ruthlessly  above  their  honored  graves. 

Where  the  blame  lies,  who  can  tell  ?  Patterson,  it  is  said,  failed 
to  bring  his  reinforcements  up,  and  Johnson  was  permitted  to  join 
Beauregard.  That  may  not  have  been  the  fatal  mistake  of  the  day, 
if  mistake  it  was.  One  of  those  causeless  panics,  which  sometimes 
seize  upon  even  disciplined  troops,  is  said  to  have  turned  the  tide 
just  as  it  seemed  to  be  setting  irresistibly  in  our  favor.  After  the 
glorious  results  of  the  preceding  day,  after  performing  wonders  of 
valor,  and  just  as  victory  was  within  their  reach,  this  horrible  panic, 
originating  among  the  teamsters,  and  spreading  rapidly  from  line  to 
line,  merged  the  hour  of  success  into  one  of  inglorious  defeat. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  91 

On  Tuesday  night,  July  i6th,  Gen.  McDowell's  army  moved 
upon  the  enemy.  Without  check,  Fairfax  and  Centreville  were 
occupied,  a  few  slight  skirmishes  only  showing  that  the  enemy  were 
keeping  just  beyond  our  reach.  The  force  in  front  was  a  matter  of 
conjecture,  but  knowing  that  the  enemy  could  not  but  be  in  strong 
force  at  this  point,  so  long  threatened,  and  with  his  facilities  for 
ascertaining  our  own,  it  was  beyond  doubt  that  our  army  would 
meet  an  enemy  at  least  its  equal  in  numbers,  and  with  the  immense 
advantage  of  a  choice  of  position  and  chance  to  fortify. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Centreville  the  enemy  abandoned  some 
considerable  fortifications,  and  sought  only  to  retard  our  advance 
by  felling  trees  across  the  roads, —  but  these  were  speedily  removed. 
On  the  night  of  Wednesday  our  army  lay  ready  for  instant  battle,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  these  two  towns. 

On  Thursday,  the  i8th,  the  advance  was  resumed.  Four  miles 
beyond  Centreville,  at  a  stream  called  Bull  Run,  Gen.  Tyler,  with 
his  brigade,  came  upon  the  enemy.  The  first  intimation  of  his 
vicinity  was  from  a  masked  battery,  which  opened  a  raking  fire 
upon  his  advance,  killing  the  horses  attached  to  one  of  the  guns  of 
Sherman's  battery.  The  battery  was,  however,  brought  off  safely, 
and  then,  while  Richardson's  brigade  reconnoitered  the  woods,  Gen. 
Tyler  ordered  a  battery  into  position  on  the  top  of  a  hill,  and  the 
fight  commenced.  All  day  the  batteries  exchanged  their  deadly 
fire,  while  in  the  woods  the  skirmishers  of  both  armies  kept  up  an 
unceasing  fusilade,  until  night  closed  upon  the  scene. 

Our  loss  thus  far  had  been  small, —  some  forty  killed  and  sixty 
wounded,  making  up  the  total  report  of  casualties  for  the  day. 

On  Friday  and  Saturday  no  demonstration  was  made  from 
either  side,  McDowell  reconnoitering,  and  the  enemy  reinforcing 
and  extending  his  line  to  avoid  a  flank  movement. 

On  Sunday  morning  at  two  the  advance  was  resumed.  Col. 
Richardson  held  with  artillery  the  position  established  on  Thurs 
day  ;  Col.  Heintzleman  passing  to  his  left,  and  flanking  the  rebel 
batteries  from  the  south.  McDowell's  main  force  passed  to  the 
right  and  north  of  Bull  Run,  on  the  other  side  of  which  the  enemy 
were  posted  in  entrenchments,  strongly  mounted  with  cannon,  and 
well  supported  with  infantry.  One  by  one  successive  batteries  were 
carried,  only  to  find  that  others  commanded  them  further  on ;  but 
the  heroism  of  our  troops  was  undaunted,  and  the  dispatches  of  Sun 
day  afternoon  closed  with  the  report  that  Col.  Heintzleman  was  far 
in  advance,  and  shelling  the  entrenchments  at  Manassas  Junction. 


92  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Now  let  us  turn  back  to  the  little  force  of  patriots  waiting  at 
Runyon,  anxiously  waiting  for  their  own  chance  in  the  game.  On 
that  Tuesday  night,  when  McDowell's  advance  was  made,  the  troops 
were  continuously  passing  through  and  moving  rapidly  to  the  west 
and  south.  During  the  anxious  days  that  followed  we  were  ex 
pecting  to  be  relieved,  as  it  was  reported  that  new  troops  were  to 
garrison  the  fort,  while  we  were  to  be  sent  to  the  front. 

That  Sunday  morning  dawned  brightly  on  the  day  that  was  not 
to  be  one  of  rest,  and  at  the  very  hour  when  we  knew  that  the  bells 
of  their  native  villages  were  calling  to  prayer,  from  that  distant  field 
came  the  low  sullen  boom  of  cannon,  and  we  knew  that  there  our 
brave  comrades  were  thinking  that  from  far  off  homes  prayers  for 
their  keeping  were  going  up  to  the  God  of  battles.  All  day  long 
the  western  parapet  was  lined  with  men.  They  could  not  see  even 
the  sulphurous  cloud  above  the  field,  but  momentarily  came  the 
reverberation, —  often  more  felt  than  heard, —  of  the  heavy  pieces  ; 
now  a  single  thunderous  wave  of  the  heavy  air,  and  again  a  succes 
sion  of  mutterings,  as  though  the  hills  spoke  from  their  shaken 
centres. 

Couriers  from  the  field  brought  almost  hourly  some  new  word 
of  cheer.  Beauregard's  line  was  broken;  batteries  were  yielding  to 
impetuous  charges;  the  day  was  surely  ours;  and  cheers  hailed 
each  of  these  riders,  and  again  dismissed  him  on  his  way  with  the 
good  news.  Lieut.  Col.  Root,  who  had  been  almost  frantic  at  the 
non-arrival  of  orders  for  the  regiment  to  advance,  rode  forward  with 
others  to  Arlington,  and  there  could  be  heard  distinctly  the  fitful 
rattle  of  the  musketry.  The  day  was  still,  not  a  cloud  in  the  sky; 
the  little  air  stirring  seemed  only  a  ripple  from  the  battle-field.  In 
the  west,  the  sky  near  the  horizon  was  dull  and  coppery  at  sunset, 
and  the  boys  said  "we  shall  have  rain;  that  will  be  a  good  thing 
for  the  wounded."  And  then  darkness  came  on,  and  the  last  lingerer 
left  the  parapet  and  joined  the  groups  in  the  company  streets.  Sad 
ness  was  there,  for  we  remembered  the  sufferers  that  day  had  made. 
Then,  too,  the  field  was  fought  and  won,  we  thought,  and  where 
was  the  share  we  had  hoped  to  have  in  its  result  ?  Little  did  we 
think  that  our  part  would  be  to  shelter  and  care  for  the  broken  rem 
nant  of  the  army  we  had  seen  marching  so  proudly  to  the  field. 

For  more  than  a  week  we  had  been  under  orders  to  be  ready 
for  a  march,  consequently  each  company  kept  at  least  one  day's 
cooked  rations  in  advance.  The  cooks'  fires  were  now  burning 
brightly,  preparing  these  for  the  coming  day. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  93 

That  night  I  was  on  guard;  my  post  was  the  south  gate,  and 
mine  was  the  second  relief,  consequently  I  was  posted  at  eleven. 
Until  after  midnight  the  camp  was  still  as  usual ;  then  there  was 
some  stir  at  the  other  gates,  and  a  hurrying  to  and  fro  of  lights,  but 
thinking  it  only  some  ordinary  occurrence  usual  to  the  camp,  I  paid 
little  attention  to  it.  Soon  after  twelve,  I  halted  a  rider  who  came 
in  hot  haste  from  toward  Alexandria.  His  panting  and  steaming 
horse,  and  excited  bearing,  made  me  ask  if  he  brought  news  from 
the  field. 

"  I  suppose  the  army  will  reach  your  fort  by  daylight." 

Astonished  at  his  words,  and  hardly  comprehending,  I  asked, — 

"What  army?" 

"  What  army  ?"  repeated  he.  "  Don't  you  know  that  our  army 
is  beaten  and  in  full  retreat?" 

And  with  an  oath  he  put  spurs  to  his  jaded  beast,  while  I  with 
a  sinking  heart  resumed  my  beat,  but  not  to  pace  it  lightly  as  an 
hour  before. 

At  one  I  was  relieved,  and  stacked  arms  with  my  relief  at  the 
bridge  gate,  where  the  guard  quarters  were.  I  learned  that  during 
the  last  two  hours  many  carriages,  with  flying  civilians,  who  had 
gone  out  the  day  before  to  see  the  fight,  had  passed  through  the 
fort  from  the  west  gate  to  the  bridge.  These  had  brought  the  most 
terrible  tales  of  the  defeat  and  rout  of  our  army.  It  was  now  rain 
ing  a  little,  and  I  crept  under  the  sheltering  front  of  a  sutler's  shed 
and  slept.  I  knew  I  should  see  more  than  enough  of  horrors  by 
daylight,  and  we  might  have  little  enough  time  for  rest. 

At  three  I  awoke,  and  then  the  dismal  cortege  was  swelling  the 
road.  Lines  of  government  wagons,  ambulances,  and  confiscated 
conveyances  of  all  kinds,  were  passing  through,  freighted  with  their 
precious  loads  of  suffering.  Men  were  lying  in  these  wagons,  in  all 
the  contorted  attitudes  of  agony.  Some  slept,  or  were  past  all  suf 
fering.  Covered  with  blood,  grimed  with  powder,  and  dust,  and 
smoke,  whether  silent  in  the  apathy  of  despair,  or  feebly  moaning 
out  their  pain,  these  mangled  forms  spoke  loudly  to  our  hearts. 

Capt.  Layton,  who  was  field  officer  of  the  day,  had  received  an 
order  signed  by  General  Scott,  directing  him  to  let  none  pass  the 
gate  toward  Washington,  except  the  wounded  and  those  bearing 
especial  passes, —  so  now  the  advance  of  the  army  began  to  accumu 
late  within  the  defences.  Worn,  pale  and  exhausted,  in  almost  as 
bad  a  plight  as  the  wounded,  these  weary  fellows  would  lie  down  in 
the  road,  among  the  tents,  anywhere,  and  sleep  despite  the  rain,  as 


94  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

though  they  never  meant  to  wake  again.  They  would  not  walk  ten 
steps  for  shelter. 

Our  rations,  cooked  last  night,  were  already  devoured  by  the 
hungry  crowd,  some  of  whom  had  not  tasted  food  for  twenty-four 
hours;  and  even  these  wavered  between  the  two  demands  of  nature, 
—  food  and  sleep.  I  saw  them  go  to  sleep  with  their  mouths  full 
of  hard  tack  and  pork, —  wake  to  take  another  dreamy  nibble,  and 
then  fall  asleep,  again.  All  the  kettles  in  camp  were  put  in  requisi 
tion,  and  pork  and  coffee  disappeared  as  fast  as  it  could  be  dealt 
out.  Nearly  all  the  stragglers  I  observed  were  wounded,  more  or 
less  severely,  and  many  had  evinced  wonderful  fortitude.  One 
noble  looking  fellow  I  saw,  was  minus  an  arm ;  it  was  his  left,  and 
had  been  taken  off  above  the  elbow.  That  man  had  his  musket  on 
his  shoulder,  and  had  carried  it  all  through  that  weary  night  march 
of  twenty-seven  miles.  I  mention  this  one  instance ;  we  saw  hun 
dreds.  Their  appearance  did  not  agree  with  the  idea  of  a  rout. 
The  entire  remnant  of  regiments  and  batteries  came  in  together,  and 
in  good  order, —  all  accounted  for.  There  were  some  stragglers 
who  had  not  been  wounded. 

Morning  dawned  on  the  scene.  We  should  hardly  have  known 
our  usually  quiet  little  fort,  for  everywhere  within  and  without  were 
grouped  around  their  colors  the  broken  cohorts  of  the  Union.  All 
the  tents  were  full  of  sleeping  men,  not  of  the  Twenty-First,  for  no 
one  of  them  slept.  All  were  busy  in  various  ways, —  some  caring 
for  the  wounded,  details  were  preparing  the  heavy  guns  for  action, 
carrying  shot  and  shell  from  the  magazines,  and  in  sailor  phrase, 
"  clearing  for  action,"  for  all  expected  that  the  rebel  army  would 
soon  knock  at  the  portals  of  Washington,  and  we  were  determined 
they  should  not  want  a  welcome.  For  more  than  a  week  we  had 
been  drilled  at  these,  under  Capt.  Seymour,  of  Fort  Sumter  fame, 
and  we  felt  that  it  would  be  a  glorious  privilege  to  check  the  inso 
lent  Beauregard,  and  teach  him  his  limits. 

Drs.  Wilcox  and  Peters,  bloody  as  butchers,  untiring  in  their 
humanity,  examined  all  the  wounded,  and  relieved  whom  they  could. 
Amputating  limbs,  extracting  balls,  and  dressing  wounds,  kept  them 
and  their  volunteer  assistants  constantly  busy.*  And  there  was  little 

*  Among  these,  Dr.  William  Treat,  of  Buffalo,  was  one  of  the  most  untiring  and  efficient.  So 
exhausted  with  their  fatiguing  duties,  and  worn  with  their  cares  thus  far,  were  the  Surgeons  from 
the  field,  that  although  willing  they  could  do  little.  One  of  these  fainted  in  the  attempt,  and  was 
much  more  in  need  of  help  than  able  to  give  it.  Dr.  Treat,  who  was  at  the  time  a  visitor,  endeared 
himself  to  those  who  witnessed  his  efforts  during  those  three  sad  days  succeeding  the  fight.  Most 
appropriate  was  this  as  one  of  the  closing  scenes  of  a  useful  career,  for  he  died  within  the  year,  and 
his  fitting  monument  is  now  in  the  grateful  memories  of  the  many  who  then  experienced  his  care. 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  95 

or  none  of  that  selfishness  one  might  expect  among  such  a  mass  of 
sufferers.  Each  waiting  patiently  for  his  turn,  and  when  it  came, 
would  perhaps  ask  that  some  one  whom  he  fancied  had  greater  need 
should  be  cared  for  first.  This  often  happened.  And  sometimes  a 
man  severely  wounded  would  lead  up  a  captured  horse,  with  a 
maimed  comrade  strapped  upon  his  back,  and  in  whose  care  he 
seemed  to  forget  all  care  for  himself.  What  nobler  spectacle  than 
this  will  one  see  among  all  the  glorious  things  of  war!  What  surer 
test  of  the  kind  of  men  who  have  taken  the  burden  of  their  country's 
weal ! 

At  nine,  being  relieved  from  guard  duty,  I  was  detailed  with  a 
number  of  men  from  each  company,  to  work  on  an  unfinished  para 
pet  in  the  marsh  on  the  river  side.  Here  we  labored  with  pick  and 
spade  until  noon.  After  a  slight  dinner,  snatched  in  the  hurry  of 
preparation,  "D"  and  "C"  having  been  detailed  for  picket  duty, 
fell  in  and  took  the  road  toward  Fairfax.  At  Ball's  Cross  Roads, 
seven  miles  out,  having  passed  the  last  of  our  retreating  forces,  we 
halted,  Company  "C"  having  stopped  about  three  miles  back,  at 
Arlington  Mills.  Here  we  found  the  Oswego  Regiment,  also  on 
picket  duty.  Our  company  took  the  cross  roads,  while  the  Oswe- 
goes  deployed  along  the  road  across  our  rear.  The  rain  fell  drearily ; 
the  mud  was  ankle  deep,  the  probability  of  an  advance  of  the 
enemy  in  force  seemed  small. 

It  was  now  nearly  dark.  After  posting  the  pickets  the  reserve 
sought  shelter.  At  that  time  there  were  still  standing  an  old  dwell 
ing,  and  by  its  side  a  smithy,  which  appeared  to  have  been  long 
unused.  The  forge  was  partly  broken  down,  but  we  got  some  dry 
wood,  and  soon  had  a  blazing  fire  dancing  in  the  chimney.  This 
place  was  occupied  by  "  D."  Over  head  in  the  old  shop,  a  part  of 
the  floor  was  remaining,  and  although  the  soot  was  deep,  and  we 
hardly  dared  inspect  our  sleeping  place,  yet  with  some  crowding  to 
avoid  the  dripping  places  in  the  roof,  we  managed  to  be  quite  com 
fortable.  The  glow  of  the  fire  soon  thawed  us  into  pretty  good 
humor,  and  secure  that  our  outposts  were  sufficient  to  make  a  sur 
prise  impossible,  we  composed  ourselves  to  sleep. 

Thus  we  passed  the  night,  the  extreme  outer  guard  of  the 
army  ;  a  post  of  some  responsiblity  and  danger, —  at  least  we  com 
placently  agreed  that  such  was  the  case.  No  foe  disturbed  our 
slumber  at  unreasonable  hour,  but  with  our  harness  on,  and  loaded 
muskets  in  our  arms,  we  slept  defiantly. 


96  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Next  morning,  July  23d,  we  turned  out  bright  and  early,  and 
somewhat  disappointed  at  not  having  been  roused  by  a  midnight 
attack.  However,  we  learned  that  a  scout  had  reported  that  famous 
Black  Horse  Cavalry  as  having  been  within  two  miles  of  our  post. 
After  drying  our  clothes  and  cleaning  our  muskets,  we  reconnoitered 
the  neighborhood.  As  our  crackers  and  pork  had  become  some 
what  sodden  in  the  rain,  we  foraged,  individually  and  in  squads,  for 
something  to  eat.  The  best  evidence  of  the  morale  of  our  army  lay 
in  the  fact  that  none  of  the  people  on  the  route  of  its  retreat  had 
suffered  any  loss.  At  a  farm  house  we  were  served  with  a  plentiful 
meal  of  good  corn  cakes,  with  pork  and  potatoes,  and  excellent  milk, 
for  which  we  gladly  paid,  although  it  was  not  asked. 

At  noon  we  received  orders  to  fall  back  to  Arlington  Mills,  so 
bidding  good-by  to  our  little  "  Fort  Alberger,"  as  we  had  christened 
the  old  shop,  we  abandoned  it  to  the  mercy  of  the  enemy.  Com 
pany  "  C  "  had  remained  back  during  the  night,  to  guard  the  Alex 
andria  &  Orange  Rail  Road,  where  it  crossed  the  road  from  Run- 
yon,  at  the  Mills,  and  there  we  joined  them.  A  stone  substructure 
and  broken  water  wheel  were  all  that  remained  of  the  mill,  standing 
in  a  hollow  which,  except  where  the  road  crossed  it,  was  densely 
wooded.  There  was  a  slight  bridge,  and  beyond  this  the  rail  road. 
Close  in  the  rear  of  the  rail  road  the  trees  stood  thick,  and  here  we 
took  our  position.  A  mounted  enemy,  to  approach  us,  must  defile 
along  the  road  by  the  mill,  and  across  the  bridge,  (which  had  been 
mined,)  and  thus  could  be  raked  to  great  advantage,  wrhile  unable 
from  his  position,  to  do  us  much  harm.  We  now  threw  our  pickets 
up  and  down  the  rail  road,  and  waited  for  something  to  turn  up. 
At  twelve  a  scout  came  in  to  warn  us  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  and  our  pickets  were  drawn  in.  All  the  morning  we  of  the 
reserve  had  been  at  work,  felling  trees  along  behind  the  rail  road, 
and  making  a  substantial  breastwork,  "  C  "  to  the  right  of  the  road, 
and  "D"  to  the  left,  and  after  each  man  had  arranged  his  place 
behind  it,  cleared  away  intervening  limbs,  and  securely  masked  his 
position,  it  looked  so  neat  and  defensible  that  one  could  not  help 
feeling  a  wish  to  see  it  tried. 

Shortly  after  noon  a  section  of  Barry's  battery,  commanded 
by  Capt.  Webb,  came  up,  planted  their  pieces  in  the  road,  in  line 
with  our  barricade,  and  masked  them  with  boughs.  From  here 
they  could  rake  the  bridge  and  the  road  beyond.  And  now,  when 
nothing  more  could  be  done  to  make  our  position  stronger,  we 
waited  anxiously.  The  afternoon  waned  slowly,  while  we  smoked, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  97 

chatted,  and  picked  the  blackberries  which  grew  plentifully  along 
the  road.  And  then  night  came,  on, — and  again  it  was  morning,— 
and  now  we  began  to  think  that  we  should,  after  all,  not  see  the 
enemy  this  time.  Yet  all  were  disappointed  when  orders  came  for 
us  to  return  to  the  fort,  and  there  was  no  little  grumbling  at  our  ill 
luck  as  the  boys  fell  in. 

At  the  fort,  things  have  resumed  their  usual  course.  It  is  the 
calm  after  the  storm.  The  wreck  cleared  away,  and  all  hands  rest 
ing  from  their  labors.  There  is  not  too  much  rest,  however,  and 
soon  there  may  be  less. 

A  report  is  now  rife  to  the  effect  that  our  army  is  to  be  increas 
ed  to  one  hundred  thousand.  The  North  is  awake  to  the  fact  that 
this  war  is  no  farce.  Scott  is  not  to  be  interfered  with  again,  and 
let  us  hope  that  this  first  reverse  will  be  our  last. 


After  the  date  of  the  above  writing,  we  had  a  long  interval  ol 
comparative  quiet.  Having  re-established  their  lines,  the  enemy 
seemed  to  be  waiting  for  a  demonstration  on  our  part,  while  our 
army  employed  the  time  in  completing  the  line  of  fortifications 
occupying  the  strong  positions  in  front  of  Arlington,  and  extending 
from  the  Chain  Bridge  to  Acquia  Creek.  McClellan,  the  hero  of 
the  West,  had  taken  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  troops 
were  pouring  in  from  the  North,  and  all  over  the  hills  on  the  Mary 
land  side,  we  could  see  their  white  villages  thickening  day  by  day. 

Our  own  part  in  the  preparations  mentioned  consisted  in  being 
for  the  time  a  regiment  of  pioneers.  About  four  miles  to  the  right 
and  front  of  our  fort,  near  a  road  from  Falls  Church  towards  Alex 
andria,  and  about  half  a  mile  from  Roach's  Mills,  a  thickly  wooded 
elevation  had  to  be  cleared,  to  make  room  for  a  fort.  All  the  forest 
in  front,  too,  was  to  be  cleared  away,  that  the  guns  might  have  free 
range.  Every  morning  ten  men  from  each  company  shouldered 
their  axes  and  marched  out  to  the  hills,  where  they  were  divided 
into  two  reliefs,  and  proceeded  to  level  the  old  monarchs  of  the  hills, 
to  make  room  for  the  new  reign  of  the  "grim  visaged,"  and  establish 
his  footsteps  in  trench  and  parapet.  It  was  a  sad  necessity  that  thus 
compelled  the  spoiling  of  nature's  fairest  handiwork,  and  stripped 
the  beautiful  hills  of  their  green  robes, — but  so  it  must  be. 

At  the  fort,  guard  duty  and  drilling  at  the  guns  continued  to 
occupy  our  time,  with  the  numerous  incidental  employments  of  life 


98  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

in  garrison.  In  the  morning-,  the  little  unnavigable  and  abandoned 
canal  in  front  of  the  fort  was  full  of  bathers,  and  its  banks  lined 
with  half  naked  washer -men,  for  we  had,  since  our  arrival  at  Wash 
ington,  to  do  our  own  laundry  work.  In  the  heat  of  the  day,  the 
little  grove  surrounding  the  spring  within  the  fort  would  be  full 
of  men  off  duty,  lounging  in  the  shades,  writing  letters, — the  great 
solace  of  the  volunteer, — mending  their  clothes,  or  playing  cards  ; 
while  around  the  spring  itself,  which  was  walled  and  covered,  and 
welled  up  beautifully  clear  from  its  bed  of  marble  frrgments,  a 
crowd  stood,  waiting  for  a  chance  to  fill  their  canteens.  In  this 
grove  stood  the  buildings  then  occupied  as  a  depot  of  supplies  for 
our  division,  and  here  from  morning  till  night  stood  a  group  of 
army  wagons,  waiting  for  their  requisitions.  Before  the  place  was 
fortified,  this  had  been  a  summer  resort  for  pleasuring  parties,  but 
now  the  ball  room  was  redolent  of  bacon,  soap  and  candles,  and 
where  the  refreshment  tables  once  stood,  piles  of  hard  tack  boxes, 
and  tiers  of  pork  and  vinegar  barrels,  were  waiting  for  transportation. 

Co.  "E,"  Capt.  Strong,  had  been  sent  to  garrison  the  "  tete  du 
pout,"  named  by  courtesy  Fort  Jackson,  at  the  j/irginia  end  of  the 
Long  Bridge.  Co.  "  K,"  Capt.  Layton,  had  removed  their  tents  to 
the  bastion  overlooking  the  Alexandria  road,  the  defence  of  which 
was  entrusted  to  them. 

Aug.  2d. — It  has  stopped  raining  at  last,  and  to-day  we  have 
had  our  usual  drill.  At  i  o'clock  P.  M.  our  arms  were  inspected  by 
the  general  inspecting  officer  of  division. 

On  the  26th  of  July — the  day  after  my  last  writing — George 
W.  Fox,  a  private  in  the  24th  (Oswego),  our  old  neighbors  at 
Elmira,  was  brought  into  the  fort,  mortally  wounded  by  the  rebels 
while  on  picket  duty.  He  died  at  four  in  the  morning.  His  last 
hours  were  cheered  by  the  ministrations  of  our  Chaplain,  and  Sur 
geon  Wilcox  did  his  utmost  for  the  unfortunate  man. 

On  the  night  of  the  27th,  between  one  and  two,  we  were  roused 
by  the  long  roll,  and  formed  in  line  of  battle.  All  the  camps 
within  hearing  were  echoing  the  alarm,  and  we  felt  certain  that  at . 
last  our  time  had  come.  But  it  was  shortly  discovered  that  the 
sentinels  of  the  35th  Regiment — occupying  the  works  northwest  of 
us — had  become  frightened  (they  have  not  been  long  here)  and 
given  a  false  alarm,  so  we  got  back  to  our  nests.  In  the  morning 
a  tornado  swept  the  country,  and  tested  our  tent  fastenings  pretty 
severely. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  99 

On  the  29th,  the  first  detail  of  eleven  men  for  fatigue  duty 
were  sent  to  the  woods. 

On  the  last  day  of  July,  Gen.  McClellan,  accompanied  by  his 
suite,  paid  the  fort  a  visit.  He  expressed  himself  much  pleased 
after  his  inspection  of  the  garrison,  and  said  he  should  be  sorry  to 
have  us  leave  him.  It  had  become  apparent  that  many  of  the  men 
were  determined  to  return  on  the  2oth  of  August,  if  possible.  I 
am  of  the  opinion,  and  from  my  position  in  the  ranks  may  be 
allowed  to  judge,  that  nearly  all  of  them  would  have  immediately 
re-enlisted.  They  were  dissatisfied  with  the  organization,  and 
determined  not  to  serve  in  it  longer  than  they  could  help.  I  shall 
soon  have  to  speak  of  the  result;  until  then  I  will  drop  the  subject. 

Sunday,  Aug.  4th. — Last  night  was  intolerably  warm,  and 
to-day  the  usual  drill  and  inspection  are  omitted  on  account  of  the 
heat.  The  marsh  between  the  fort  and  the  river  is  the  prolific 
origin  of  our  two  curses — ague  and  musquitoes.  About  sixty  men 
report  .daily  to  the  Surgeon  for  their  doses  of  quinine,  and  at  all 
hours  of  the  day  you  may  see  them  sitting  in  the  hot  sun,  shaking 
as  if  life  depended  on  it.  As  for  the  musquitoes,  Egypt's  curse  of 
flies  could  hardly  have  been  worse.  They  are  of  all  sizes  and 
kinds,  from  the  diminutive  torments  called  "  gnats,"  to  the  hornet- 
like  "  gallinipper,"  with  black  body  and  yellow  legs,  and  big 
enough,  almost,  to  digest  salt  horse  and  hard  tack.  They  prefer, 
however,  to  take  their  rations  by  proxy,  after  WE  have  manufac 
tured  those  delicacies  into  good  loyal  blood.  The  only  possible 
good  these  things  were  created  for  must  have  been  to  prevent 
sentinels  from  sleeping  on  post.  Last  night  I  was  on  guard.  The 
moment  I  mounted  the  parapet  I  was  conscious  of  a  continued 
angry  hum-m-m,  as  though  ten  million  of  tin  dinner  horns  were 
calling  from  all  quarters  the  vampire  host  to  the  banquet.  Jack 

— ,  whom  I  was  to  relieve,  was  performing  some  strange  evolu 
tions,  dancing  around  in  a  queer  way,  and  keeping  time  much  in 
the  way  the  darkies  call  "patting,"  only  that  every  part  of  his  body 
came  in  freely  for  a  share  of  his  attentions. 

"Jack  !  "  said  I,  "  are  there  any  musquitoes  here  ?  " 

"Musquitoes?"  No.  (Slap.)  They  ain't  many  (slap)  here 
(slap).  But  if  you  go  down  there  (slap),  you'll  (slap,  slap}  you'll 
(slap,  slap,  SLAP,)  faid  some." 

It  is  unnecessary  to  intimate  that  I  didn't  go  "down  there" 
any  oftener  than  I  could  help.  A  few  nights  ago  I  caught  one  of 
the  big  yellow-legged  fellows  and  pinned  him  triumphantly  to  my 


100  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

tent  pole.  I  thought  I  would  send  him  home  in  an  envelope,  that 
Buffalonians  might  know  what  ugly  customers  had  lain  siege  to  our 
fort,  an  enemy  against  whom  our  monster  guns  are  nothing.  But 
next  morning  he  was  gone,  and  the  boys  aver  that  after  almost 
pulling  the  tent  down  in  his  struggles,  he  got  the  pin  loose  and 
flew  away — with  it  sticking  through  him — cursing  the  Yankees  like 
a  good  F.  F.  V.,  and  swearing  bloody  vengeance. 

This  evening  at  parade  the  following  orders  were  read : 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS,  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  1 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 

ALBANY,  August  2d,  1861.  J 
Special  Orders  No.  324: 

His  Excellency,  the  President,  desiring  the  further  services  of  the  Twenty-First 
Regiment,  New  York  State  Volunteers,  and  having  made  a  requisition  on  the 
Governor  therefor,  Colonel  Rogers  is  hereby  directed,  on  the  expiration  of  the  term 
for  which  said  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  (August 
2oth,  1861),  to  report  with  his  command  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  United 
States,  for  duty,  under  the  order  of  the  U.  S.  Government,  for  the  remainder  of 
the  term  of  enlistment  of  the  regiment  into  the  service  of  the  State  of  New  York. 
By  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

D.  CAMPBELL, 

A.  A.    G. 

Considerable  dissatisfaction  is  felt  among  those  who  have  been 
expecting  to  go  home  at  the  end  of  the  three  months. 

Aug.  loth. — Nothing  of  especial  interest  has  transpired  since 
my  last  writing.  , 

On  the  5th  we  went  to  some  of  the  old  deserted  camps  near  us, 
and  secured  a  lot  of  boards  for  our  tents,  and  some  stoves  for  the 
cooks.  Our  new  floors  and  board  walls  are  immensely  comfortable, 
and  since  the  advent  of  the  stoves  we  revel  in  slap-jacks  and  fried 
pork.  On  the  6th  Lieut.  Doyle  was  appointed  to  ist  Lieutenancy 
in  "  K  "  Company.  Lieuts.  Gillett  and  McBean  have  resigned,  and 
James  S.  Mulligan,  Orderly  Sergeant  of  "  B,"  is  promoted  to  2d 
Lieutenancy  in  "  K,"  in  place  of  Nicholson,  resigned.  On  the  6th, 
2d  Lieut.  Canfield,  of  "  C,"  was  transferred  to  "  I,"  with  the  same 
rank,  and  Orderly  Sergeant  Remington,  of  "  C,"  promoted  in  his 
place,  on  the  yth. 

On  the  8th  we  received  pay  for  June.  Gen.  McClellan  passed 
through  the  fort  on  the  same  day,  and  we  saw  him  for  the  first  time. 
All  were  pleased  with  his  appearance.  He  is  a  man  rather  below 
the  medium  height,  but  gives  one  the  impression  of  "  good  things 
in  a  small  parcel."  His  hair  and  moustaches  are  light,  with  corre- 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  IOI 

spending  complexion,  and  piercing  eye.  He  sits  his  horse  firmly 
and  gracefully,  and  looks  "  every  inch  a  soldier."  Prince  Napoleon 
accompanied  him. 

On  the  Qth  the  deputation  from  Buffalo  arrived,  and  were 
present  at  parade.*  This  evening  (loth),  after  parade,  Lieut. 
Wheeler,  in  behalf  of  his  company — "  B  " — presented  Lieut.  Mulli 
gan,  their  quondam  Orderly,  with  a  handsome  sword,  sash  and  belt, 
as  a  testimonial  of  their  regard.  Mulligan,  who  is  emphatically  a 
"good  fellow,"  bore  it  like  a  man,  and  made  an  appropriate 
expression  of  his  thanks  and  regard  for  the  donors. 


THE    TWENTIETH    OF    AUGUST. 

I  must  now  speak  of  an  occurrence,  which,  while  it  was  greatly 
magnified  at  home,  as  to  its  facts  and  importance,  was  yet  a  cause 
of  sincere  regret  to  all  concerned,  and  which  we  hope  is  not 
remembered  against  us.  The  few  who  were  the  cause  have 
expiated  their  crime ;  nearly  all  are  now  numbered  among  the 
heroic  dead,  and  those  who  remain  have  nobly  wiped  away  the 
stain  with  blood.  I  speak  of  the  attempte.d  revolt  on  the  expiration 
of  the  sworn  term  of  service,  when  we  were  turned  over  by  our 
State  for  the  full  term. 

Ours  was  not  the  only  regiment  thus  turned  over  to  the  General 
Government.  Among  these  were  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  New 
York.  The  time  of  the  last  expired  on  the  i3th  of  August,  and 
they  were  ordered  to  Fortress  Monroe.  The  Twelfth  remained  in 
our  vicinity,  and  the  disaffected  in  our  regiment  were  confirmed  in 
their  determination  to  stand  by  what  they  considered  their  rights, 
by  mingling  with  them;  for  the  men  of  that  regiment  declared 
that  they  would  return  whether  discharged  or  not,  and  on  the  i4th 
they  were,  as  one  of  our  boys  expressed  it,  "  raising  the  very  old 
nick." 

The  citizens  of  Buffalo,  who  were  so  proud  of  their  first 
regiment,  that  they  could  not  bear  to  consent  to  its  honorless  return, 
because  a  part  of  its  members  chose,  sent  a  delegation  to  Wash 
ington,  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  feeling  among  the  men,  relative 
to  their  return,  and  to  prevent  it  if  possible.  These  gentlemen — 


*The  purpose  of  the  visit  was  to  prevent  our  return  on  the  2oth,  as  explained  hereafter. 


102  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Hon.  H.  W.  Rogers,  Mayor  Alberger,  and  Alderman  Adams — 
visited  our  fort,  made  the  necessary  investigation,  and  had  an  inter 
view  with  Gen.  McClellan,  the  result  of  which  was  not  imparted  to 
us,  but  all  were  assured  that  the  attempt  to  leave  the  service  would 
be  hopeless.  Few  were  disposed  to  dispute  the  moral  obligation 
to  remain  for  the  full  term  of  the  State  service,  but  a  portion 
objected  to  what  they  deemed  the  way  taken  to  inveigle  the  com 
mand  into  remaining  longer  than  they  had  promised.  They  said 
that  had  they  been  asked  at  Elrnira  to  swear  in  for  the  full  term, 
they  would  have  done  so,  but  they  had  determined  not  to  remain 
under  their  present  officers.  I  observed  that  nearly  all  the  disaf 
fected  men  were  those  who  had  come  in  collision  with  authority, 
and  been  subjected  to  harsh  punishment.  Thus  matters  stood  until 
the  2oth  of  August.  On  the  igth,  Company  "E"  had  been  relieved 
from  duty  at  Fort  Jackson,  and  "  D  "  had  taken  its  place. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2oth,  a  few  men  refused  to  appear  at 
roll  call.  At  reveille,  Col.  Rogers  had  sent  orders  to  the  officers  of 
companies,  to  have  those  men  who  thought  they  had  served  long 
enough  stack  their  arms.  Only  twenty-one  men  in  all,  and  those 
from  only  three  companies  (sixteen  from  "  E,"  four  from  "  H,"  and 
one  from  "A")  signified  their  unwillingness  to  serve  longer,  by 
complying  with  this  order,  and  these  were  quietly  walked  to  the 
guard-house,  and  then  as  quietly  started,  under  a  guard,  for  the 
Navy  Yard,  where  Gen.  McDowell  had  ordered  them  to  be  confined, 
until  shipped  to  the  Dry  Tortugas,  to  serve,  as  the  order  says, 
"  without  arms,  until  they  show  themselves  more  worthy  to  bear 
them." 

Company  "  K  "  had  been  detailed  entire  for  fatigue  duty,  and 
sent  to  the  woods  early  in  the  morning.  So  quietly  had  the 
"  mutiny"  risen  and  been  quelled,  that  men  asleep  after  guard  duty 
knew  nothing  about  what  was  going  on  until  their  comrades  had 
been  hours  gone.  This  was  the  "  mutiny  "  that  gave  us  in  Buffalo 
an  unenviable  name,  until  time  and  service  proved  us.  About  noon 
Company  "  K  "  returned  from  the  woods  all  right,  and  learned  what 
their  comrades  had  done.  About  four  they  began  to  talk,  and  the 
spirit  of  revolt  worked  rapidly.  At  five  parade  call  was  answered 
by  the  appearance  of  every  company  in  the  fort  but  "  K."  Col. 
Rogers  sent  to  know  why  they  did  not  come,  as  the  line  was  waiting. 
"  K  "  still  occupied  the  bastion,  and  in  a  moment  Capt.  Layton  came 
down  and  reported  the  refusal  of  his  men  to  do  further  duty  ; 
whereupon  parade  proceeded  without  them,  and  then  the  company, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  103 

with  the  exception  of  five  of  its  members,  was  placed  under  guard. 
No  resistance  was  attempted,  and  all  was  done  quietly.  That 
evening  they  were  started,  under  charge  of  their  Captain,  for  the 
Navy  Yard.  At  the  "tete  du  pont,"  a  part  of  "  D  "  was  detailed  to 
escort  them,  and  just  before  the  prisoners  were  turned  over  to  their 
care  by  Capt.  Layton,  he  made  them  a  sensible  and  friendly  speech, 
showed  them  their  error,  and  the  hopelessness  of  continuing  to 
expect  success,  and  finally  asked  who  would  return  with  him  to 
duty.  The  majority  of  the  company  instantly  expressed  their  will 
ingness  to  do  so,  and  with  their  Captain  returned  to  the  fort  in  their 
right  minds,  while  the  twenty  who  still  held  out,  went  on. 

Thus  ended  the  difficulty.  Insubordination  was  rooted  out 
without  harshness,  which  might,  by  exciting  sympathy,  have  added 
fuel  to  the  flame,  and  the  firmness  and  decision  manifested  by  the 
Colonel,  showed  its  result  in  the  consequent  behavior  of  the  men. 

What  became  of  the  mutineers  ?  Capt.  Layton  discovered, 
during  their  stay  at  the  Navy  Yard,  that  they  were  repentant  and 
anxious  to  return  to  duty.  He  procured  an  order  from  Gen. 
McDowell,  granting  them  that  privilege,  but  owing  to  some  unavoid 
able  delay,  did  not  reach  the  Navy  Yard  with  it  until  they  had  been 
three  hours  gone.  Company  "  B  "  had  gone  to  guard  them,  and 
instead  of  the  Tortugas,  they  had  been  sent  to  the  Rip  Raps, 
near  Fortress  Monroe.* 


On  the  24th  we  had  a  grand  review  upon  the  race  course  near 
the  Fort.  Gen.  McClellan  complimented  the  regiment  highly  upon 
its  drill  and  appearance. 

The  gray  uniforms  given  us  at  Elmira  had  by  this  time  become 
rather  threadbare,  and  were  replaced  by  Uncle  Sam's  livery.  On 
the  29th  of  August  wre  received  caps,  jackets  and  pants  of  dark 
blue,  with  a  gray  woolen  blouse  for  fatigue  duty.  The  pants  were 
afterwards  replaced  by  others  of  light  blue. 

Nothing  further  of  special  interest  occurred  until  our  advance 
to  Arlington.  In  the  woods  and  at  the  fort  our  duties  continued  in 
the  same  round,  until  we  bade  a  final  good-by  to  the  latter. 


*  We  learned  long  'afterwards  that  these  men,  after  being  confined  for  some  time  with  others 
there  for  the  same  offence,  were  one  day  drawn  up  in  line  by  order  of  Gen.  Wool,  and  those  willing 
to  return  to  duty  asked  to  step  out.  The  whole  line  stepped  forward  as  one  man.  They  were 
assigned  to  various  regiments  in  Wool's  command;  those  from  the  Twenty-First  going  into  the  2d 
New  York.  They  afterwards  expiated  their  offence  by  noble  conduct  on  the  field,,  and  but  three  are 
now  known  to  be  alive. 


104  CHRONICLES    OF     THE 

On  the  last  day  of  August  the  following  order  was  received : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC. 
Special  Orders  No.  18. 

The  2 1st  Regiment  N.  Y.  Vols.,  is  assigned  to  Wadsworth's  Brigade,  McDowell's 
Division,  which  it  will  proceed  to  join  on  being  relieved  at  its  present  station. 

Brig.  Gen.  Richardson  will  at  once  detail  two  companies  of  the  I4th  Massachu 
setts  Regiment  to  occupy  Fort  Runyon,  and  the  works  at  the  end  of  the  Long 
Bridge. 

By  command  of  Maj.  Gen.  McClellan. 

S.  WILLIAMS, 

A.  A.   G. 

Again  we  prepared  to  march,  glad  to  be  relieved  from  the 
irksomeness  of  garrison  life,  glad  to  get  away  from  the  marshes  with 
their  aguey  miasma  and  musquitoes ;  and  glad  to  get  a  little  nearer 
the  front.  There  were  but  few  who  had  not  suffered  from  ague  and 
fevers,  otherwise  the  health  of  the  regiment  had  been  good.  Two 
men  died  during  the  two  months,  —  John  Layh  and  William 
Mathews,  both  of  Company  "G,"  the  former  on  the  nth,  and  the 
latter  on  the  iQth  of  August.  Both  were  good  soldiers.  So  stands 
their  record ;  and  it  is  all  we  need  say.  They  died  while  waiting 
for  the  foe,  and  sleep  as  gloriously  as  though  their  graves  were  side 
by  side  with  thousands  in  ground  sanctified  by  the  baptism  of  their 
blood. 

Companies  "C"  and  "D"  were  to  go  first  and  prepare  the 
camping  ground. 

Next  day,  like  a  tribe  of  bedouins  we  leveled  our  canvass  walls 
and  prepared  to  seek  a  new  site  for  their  erection. 

As  this  is  only  a  history  of  our  own  part  in  the  great  drama  of 
the  day,  it  can,  with  propriety,  only  treat  of  cotemporaneous 
events  as  they  shaped  our  destinies,  or  were  brought  within  the 
sphere  of  our  own  immediate  observation. 

The  advanced  line  of  defences  had  been  nearly  completed,  and 
the  army  were  to  move  forward  and  occupy  them  permanently. 
Company  "  D,"  since  its  occupation  of  Fort  Jackson,  had  guarded 
the  Long  Bridge,  half  the  company  being  detailed  daily  for  that 
duty.  Being  now  relieved  at  their  post  by  a  company  of  the  I4th 
Massachusetts,  they  joined  the  regiment,  and  at  noon,  with  a  cheer 
for  our  old  fort,  and  an  affectionate  good-by  look  at  palisade  and 
parapet,  and  the  grim,  black  "  dogs  of  war,"  our  pets  for  so  long, 
—  and  whom  we  would  have  so  liked  to  unmuzzle  upon  those 
impertinent'  trespassers  "  so  near,  and  yet  so  far," — Companies 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  105 

"C"  and  "D"  debouched  from  the  western  gate,  and  took  the 
road  for  Arlington. 

That  night  we  camped,  temporarily,  along  a  wagon  trail  through 
the  bush,  just  back  of  Fort  Cass,  one  of  the  chain  of  thirty  forts 
formerly  mentioned  as  extending  from  Chain  Bridge  to  Alexandria. 
A  new  military  road  along  this  line  ran  just  in  our  rear,  and  all 
night  we  heard  the  tramp  of  battalions  and  squadrons,  and  the 
rumble  of  artillery.  Next  morning  we  proceeded  to  lay  out  our 
camp,  close  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  which  was,  of  course,  on  high 
ground,  and  commanded  a  far  sweep  of  dale  and  dell  which  had 
been  bared  by  the  axe  to  give  free  range  to  its  guns.  The  latter 
had  not  yet  been  mounted,  as  the  works  were  hardly  finished,  and 
while  we  were  clearing  away  the  trees  for  our  camp,  the  Massachu 
setts  Ninth,  who  had  built  the  fort,  were  planting  a  strong  stockade 
in  its  rear.  Companies  "G"  and  "H"  arrived  during  the  day. 
Next  day  we  were  established,  and  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday 
the  companies  left  at  Runyon  joined  us. 

Here  wre  passed  the  remainder  of  the  month  of  September  quite 
pleasantly.  The  first  week  of  our  stay  was  devoted  to  making  the 
camp  as  neat  and  comfortable  as  possible.  In  clearing  away  the 
trees  we  had  only  removed  those  in  the  lines  of  tents,  leaving  the 
others  for  shade,  but  Dr.  Wilcox,  more  anxious  for  our  health  than 
for  our  immediate  comfort,  ordered  us  to  cut  these  away  also,  that 
the  sun  might  have  free  access  and  kill  the  fever  seed  always  lurking 
in  the  damp  ground  of  a  new  clearing.  Though  the  boys  were 
sorry  to  lose  their  pet  "  roof  trees,"  the  Doctor  was  inexorable,  and 
down  they  came.  The  good  Doctor  seems  to  have  no  thought  but 
for  the  good  of  his  charge,  and  he  is  appreciated  more  and  more 
each  day.  Ever  since  we  have  lived  in  tents  he  has  been  rigid  in 
enforcing  all  measures  bearing  on  the  health  of  the  regiment,  and 
every  day  he  makes  his  rounds,  inspecting  the  tents,  and  woe  to  the 
unfortunate  wight  who  attends  not  to  his  duties  in  the  matter  of 
cleanliness  and  ventilation.  At  least  once  a  week  each  tent  has  to 
be  struck,  so  that  the  ground  and  bunking  places  may  have  free 
sun  and  air.  Any  litter  around  tents  or  under  bunks  he  detests, 
especially  fragments  of  bread,  the  decomposing  gluten  of  which,  he 
says,  is  more  injurious  than  the  vilest  stench  of  decaying  animal 
matter. 

Wadsworth's  Brigade,  to  which  we  have  at  length  been 
assigned,  is  composed  of  the  2ist,  23d  and  35th  New  York  State 
Volunteers.  I  mention  our  regiment  first  as  we  have  the  right  of 


106  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

the  brigade.  Our  brigade,  too,  has  the  right  of  McDowell's  Divis 
ion,  consequently  ours  is  a  proud  position,  the  leading  regiment  in 
the  advance  we  are  expecting. 

The  23d,  next  us  in  camp  as  in  brigade,  lie  just  to  our  left,  and 
a  guard  line  only  separates  the  camps.  The  35th  occupy  Fort 
Tillinghast,  about  half  a  mile  to  the  left. 

On  the  3ist  day  of  August,  Capt.  Lay  ton  left  for  Buffalo,  on 
recruiting  service. 

About  the  time  of  our  advance,  private  Henry  Lansing  of  "  D  " 
was  commissioned  as  ist  Lieutenant  in  Company  "  K,"  instead  of 
Doyle,  who  had  received  his  appointment  from  the  Colonel,  but 
had  not  been  commissioned ;  and  Sergeant  Greig  Mulligan  was 
promoted  to  2d  Lieutenancy  in  the  goth  N.  Y.  Vols.,  a  new  regiment. 
He  left  with  the  best  wishes  of  all  who  knew  him,  a  good  soldier 
and  well  deserving  of  his  good  fortune. 

On  the  4th  of  September  we  received  orders  to  have  two  days' 
cooked  rations  always  ready,  and  be  prepared  to  march  at  a 
moment's  warning.  McClellan  seems  to  be  waiting  for  the  enemy 
to  make  his  next  move,  and  probably  when  we  again  move  it  will 
be  to  strike  a  decisive  blow.  A  heavy  rain  set  in  the  same  night, 
which  continued  all  next  day.  We  had  no  parade,  but  the  com 
panies  fell  in  while  the  orders  were  read.  Our  new  camp  is  called 
"  Camp  Buffalo." 

Next  day,  the  6th,  we  were  inspected,  and  the  right  wing 
ordered  to  prepare  to  do  picket  duty  on  the  following  Monday. 
Our  Drum  Major  was  reduced  by  his  own  request,  and  Charles 
Fisher  appointed  in  his  place. 

At  parade  on  the  yth,  orders  were  read  sentencing  private 
William  Scott,  of  the  3d  Vermont  Regiment,  to  be  shot  for  sleeping 
on  his  post.  This  is  intended  as  a  warning  to  those  wrho  have  ol 
late  allowed  themselves  to  be  so  careless  in  the  discharge  of  this 
most  important  of  duties. 

Next  day  (Sunday)  our  knapsacks  and  accoutrements  were 
inspected  as  usual.  It  might  be  asked  whether  it  would  not  have 
been  well  in  our  Commander-in-Chief,  while  issuing  an  order  for 
the  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  to  have  done  away  with  these 
tedious  inspections  which  custom  allows  to  be  thrust  upon  the 
soldiers  on  that  day  which  should  be  one  of  rest.  One  is  hardly  in 
devotional  mood  after  standing  for  two  or  three  hours  while  every 
man  in  the  regiment  is  carefully  and  completely  examined  by  one 
officer.  When,  after  such  an  involuntary  penance,  they  are  at  last 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  *       IOy 

formed  in  hollow  square,  and  the  Chaplain  begins  his  labors,  they 
are  usually  very  impatient  listeners,  if  they  listen  at  all. 

Next  morning  at  seven,  the  right  wing — Companies  "  K,"  "  G," 
"  E,"  "  A,"  and  "  I,"  under  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Root,  left  camp 
for  Ball's  Cross  Roads,  where  they  were  to  remain  on  picket  duty 
until  relieved.  During  the  day  several  balloon  ascensions  were 
made  from  an  eminence  near  Fort  Corcoran. 

The  enemy  now  occupy  Munson's  and  Upton's  Hills,  and  it  is 
probable  that  we  shall  soon  dispute  their  possession.  An  advance 
is  to  be  expected  at  any  hour,  and  we  are  prepared  for  one. 

On  Wednesday,  the  nth,  we  had  our  first  drill  in  the  new 
camp.  At  noon  the  companies  of  the  right  wing  returned  from 
picket  duty.  They  had  been  fired  on,  and  returned  the  compliment 
many  times  during  the  two  days,  but  no  one  was  hurt.  The  Alex 
andria,  Loudon  and  Hampshire  Railroad  forms  our  picket  line,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ball's  Cross  Roads,  and  it  abounds  in  good  cover 
for  the  men  on  post.  Still,  as  many  are  rash  and  venturesome,  and 
expose  themselves  so  as  to  provoke  a  shot  "just  for  the  fun  "  of  re 
turning  it,  picket  shooting  is  quite  an  ordinary  occurrence  ;  and  so  it 
must  be  until  both  armies  are  disciplined  into  a  realization  of  the 
fact  that  merely  killing  men  in  this  way,  is  nmrder,  simply,  and  has 
no  bearing  on  the  main  result.  When  men  move  in  masses,  immense 
results  may  follow  a  combination  of  favorable  circumstances  and 
scientific  handling,  with  but  a  small  proportionate  loss  of  life ;  and 
even  when  that  proportion  is  large,  it  is  "  swallowed  up  "  in  victory 
or  defeat.  But  the  killing  of  one  man,  in  cold  blood,  where  the 
only  object  is  the  gratification  of  the  destructive  propensities  of  the 
assassin,  or  his  desire  to  stain  his  hands  with  the  blood  of  a  fellow 
being  that  he  may  boast  of  the  deed,  is  a  miserable  achievement. 
The  time  will  come  when  both  armies  will  see  enough  of  necessary 
bloodshed,  and  then  this  will  cease.  One  could  wish  rather  to  see 
an  interchange  of  courtesies  between  them,  such  as  the  chivalric 
usages  of  the  medieval  ages  were  wont  to  sanction.  Indeed,  soldiers 
on  picket  duty  are  not  expected  to  fight.  They  may  do  so  in  case 
of  attack,  where  advantage  of  position  and  necessity  of  holding 
ground  until  the  main  force  can  be  properly  disposed,  combine  to 
warrant  it ;  but  in  the  abstract  they  are  simply  feelers,  extended  to 
guard  against  surprise,  to  cut  off  communication  where  it  might  be 
treacherously  used,  and  to  warn  of  a  hostile  approach.  They 
should  respect  the  mutual  function,  and  never  fire  but  in  case  of  a 


108       >  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

general  advance,  and  then  the  line  attacked  usually  falls  back  on  its 
reserve,  and  awaits  the  movements  of  the  supporting  force. 

Shortly  after  noon  we  heard  heavy  firing  in  a  northwesterly 
direction,  and  learned  that  our  troops  were  engaging  the  enemy. 
Instantly  the  camps  were  lively  with  preparation.  The  Massachu 
setts  Ninth  left  their  work  on  the  fort,  and  were  hurried  off  in  the 
direction  of  the  Chain  Bridge.  All  the  afternoon  the  firing  continued 
at  fitful  intervals.  No  orders  came  for  us,  and  late  at  night  we 
learned  that  a  small  force  of  federals,  under  Gen.  Smith,  had  met  a 
body  of  the  enemy  with  artillery  and  cavalry,  and  after  a  short  but 
fierce  engagement,  driven  them  off  with  small  loss.* 

The  Ninth  returned  without  having  participated  in  the  fight. 

Sept.  1 2th. — It  rained  all  last  night.  To-day  we  have  received 
our  pay  for  July  and  August,  and  with  the  prospect  of  being  soon 
in  the  field,  the  boys  don't  like  to  keep  their  spare  money  with 
them,  so  they  are  putting  it  in  the  care  of  Chaplain  Robie,  who  is 
about  to  have  a  furlough,  for  their  families.  This  speaks  well  for 
our  boys,  considering  the  proverbial  improvidence  of  the  soldier. t 

This  time  we  were  paid  principally  in  the  new  Treasury  Notes, 
instead  of  the  gold  we  have  heretofore  received,  and  Uncle  Sam's 
"  promises  to  pay  "  are  at  a  premium,  on  account  of  their  adapta 
bility  for  safe  and  convenient  transfer  by  mail,  and  also  because 
they  are  not  so  easily  lost  as  the  small  gold  pieces. 

This  shows  the  confidence  of  the  men  in  the  government,  to 
the  support  of  which  they  have  pledged  their  lives, — for  if  unstable 
or  in  danger  of  dissolution,  who  would  redeem  these? 

Now  that  the  men  are  learning  the  ways  of  camp  life,  and  how 
to  use  the  liberal  provision  made  for  them,  they  find  that  it  is  more 

*This  was  the  battle  of  Lewinsville.     The  following  is   Gen.  McClellan's  report  of  the  engage 
ment  : 

FROM  GEN.  SMITH'S  HEADQUARTERS, 

Sept.  nth,  1861. 
To  SIMON  CAMERON,  SECRETARY  OF  WAR  : 

General  Smith   made  a  reconnoisance  with   two   thousand  men   to   Lewinsville.     He  remained 
there  several  hours,  and  completed  the  examination  of  the  ground. 

When  the  work   was  completed  and  the  command  had  started  back,  the  enemy  opened  fire  with 
shell,  killing  two  men  and  wounding  three. 

Griffin's  battery  silenced  the  enemy's  battery.     Our  men  then   came  back  in  perfect  order  and 
excellent  spirits.     The  men  behaved  most  admirably  under  fire. 

GEORGE  B.  McCLELLAN, 

Major  General,  &c. 


fThe  Buffalo  Express  of  Sept.  2ist,  says  :— Chaplain  Robie  brought  home  with  him  from  the 
soldiers  of  the  2ist,  to  their  relations  and  friends  in  this  city,  over  $5,000  in  demand  notes  of  the  U. 
S.  Treasury.  This  speaks  well  for  the  provident  disposition  and  good  habits  of  the  men. 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  IOQ 

than  sufficient,  and  aside  from  the  purchase  of  such  little  rarities  as 
one  must  allow  himself,  when  they  can  be  procured,  and  the  indis 
pensable  tobacco,  there  is  little  use  for  money.  Gambling  is  strictly 
forbidden  and  severely  punished,  and  the  little  of  it  that  is  done  is 
by  stealth,  and  among  a  certain  set  who,  while  they  prey  only  upon 
each  other,  will  not  do  much  harm. 

Sunday,  Sept.  i5th. — We  are  still  in  camp.  Day  before  yester 
day  the  camp  was  again  in  ferment  with  the  advance  fever. 

Something  was  evidently  "in  the  wind,"  for  Professor  Lowe's 
monstrous  balloon  had  been  up  nearly  all  day,  and  the  ever  busy 
rumors  of  the  camp  would  have  it  that  the  army  was  about  to  move. 
Toward  sunset,  sudden  and  rapid  firing  was  heard  in  the  direction 
of  Ball's,  which  continued  until  after  dark.  Then  the  horizon  in 
that  direction  was  aglow  in  many  places  writh  the  burning  of  build 
ings,  and  in  the  sky  we  could  see  the  shells  bursting  like  volcanic 
stars. 

Our  pickets  had  been  driven  in,  and  the  enemy  were  burning 
every  dwelling,  barn,  or  stack,  that  had  afforded  them  shelter. 
Troops  from  camp  were  marching  to  support  the  line,  and  we  were 
ordered  to  prepare  for  immediate  attack.  The  cooks'  fires  were 
piled  high,  and  the  kettles  were  all  in  use,  preparing  our  two  clays' 
rations.  Each  soldier  took  care  that  his  arms  \vere  in  order,  and 
many  were  writing  what  might  be  their  last  letters.  I  suppose  all 
soldiers  are,  during  their  first  year,  given  to  frequent  farewell  letters, 
or  letters  with  a  light  glazing  of  humor,  intended  to  cover  much 
premonitory  feeling.  Some  affect  spasms  of  off-hand,  nonchalant 
heroism,  or  devil-may-care-ism,  like  this  :  "  We  march  at  daybreak 
and  to-morrow  'look  out  for  fun.'  If  some  scamp  of  a  reb.  don't 
make  a  hole  in  me,  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  in  my  next.  If  he  does, 
why  then  good-by.  There'll  be  a  rousing  old  reveille  some  day, 
you  know,"  &c.,  &c.  That's  the  way  your  new  soldier  consoles 
those  at  home,  and  really  he  feels  it,  but  had  better  suppress  it. 
And  then  when  his  high-flown  bundle  of  heroics  has  departed,  and 
that  expected  march  is  a  disappointment,  and  he  don't  see  a  fight 
after  all,  he  feels  quite  "  cheap,"  and  don't  dare  to  write  to  that 
correspondent  again  for  a  long  time.  Well,  I  presume  very  much 
of  that  kind  of  thing  was  being  done  in  the  tents  on  that  night.  But 
tattoo  came,  as  usual,  and  we  turned  in,  with  orders,  however,  to 
sleep  in  our  clothes  and  upon  our  arms. 

Yesterday  we  did  nothing  but  remain  "  ready,"  and  very  hard 
work  it  was.  Our  haversacks  were  all  crammed,  and  we  persisted 


110  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

in  believing  we  were  to  "  do  something,"  for  the  officers  were 
ordered  to  wear  their  uniforms  constantly,  and  no  passes  from  camp 
were  granted.  At  parade,  orders  were  read  directing  that  •"  here 
after  reveille  shall  not  be  beaten  until  after  sunrise,"  and  that  coffee 
be  dealt  out  to  men  immediately  after.  No  music  to  be  allowed 
while  marching  or  changing  positions,  or  at  any  time  other  than 
the  stated  exercises  and  calls.  This  looks  like  work.  Last  night 
we  slept  on  our  arms  again. 

To-day,  being  Sunday,  of  course  we  have  been  unusually  busy. 
We  were  inspected  by  Gens.  McDowell  and  Wadsworth,  and  a  very 
thorough  inspection  it  was,  too.  Gen.  McDowell,  though  not  a 
martinet,  is  a  very  severe  disciplinarian,  and  no  neglect,  however 
slight,  escapes  his  quick  eye.  Afternoon,  Chaplain  Hughes  of  the 
i4th  N.  Y.  preached  on  the  "  Sounding  of  the  seventh  Angel." 

Monday,  Sept.  16. — To-day  Chaplain  Robie  left  for  home. 
Twenty-five  recruits  arrived  from  Buffalo,  this  morning,  in  charge 
of  Sergeant  Irwin,  of  "  I  "  Company. 

These  men  were  enlisted  by  Capts.  Layton  and  Strong,  and 
Lieuts.  Baker  and  Vallier,  who  commenced  recruiting  about  the 
ist  of  September,  in  Buffalo.  According  to  orders  from  the  Adju 
tant  General,  the  men  were  sworn  in  for  the  balance  of  the  two 
years,  and  it  is  intended  to  fill  up  the  regiment  to  its  maximum 
number,  one  thousand  and  forty-eight  men.  This  will  make  our 
regiment  as  large  as  any  in  the  field. 

We  also  learn  that  the  Union  Cornet  Band  is  to  join  us.  The 
boys  are  jubilant  over  this  prospective  addition  to  the  attractions  of 
camp. 

This  evening  the  following  complimentary  order  was  read  on 
parade  : 

HEADQUARTERS  DIVISION, 
ARLINGTON  HEIGHTS,  Sept.  16,  1861. 
General  Orders  No.  39. 

At  the  Inspection  of  camp  yesterday,  the  General  Commanding  was  pleased  to 
notice  the  well  policed  condition  of  the  camp  grounds  of  the  1 4th,  2ist,  22d,  25th 
and  35th  Regiments. 

It  is  enjoined  upon  all  officers  and  men  of  this  command,  to  prevent  the  extrav 
agant  waste  of  provisions,  which  is  noticed  in  some  of  the  regiments. 
By  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  McDowell. 

H.  W.  KINGSBURY, 

A.  A.  A.  G. 

On  the  i yth,  a  review  of  the  brigade  took  place.  The  regiment 
went  out  at  nine.  The  day  was  of  the  hottest,  and  several  of  the 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT.  Ill 

men  gave  out  and  were  brought  back  in  ambulances.  At  parade, 
orders  were  read  directing  that  each  regiment  drill  with  knapsacks 
daily,  commencing  with  forty-five  minutes,  and  increasing  the  time 
fifteen  minutes  each  day.  As  the  boys  say,  it  will  be  "  tough  on 
us  "  in  this  hot  weather,  but  not  so  tough  as  having  to  carry  them 
by  and  by  on  a  long  march,  without  having  accustomed  ourselves 
to  it. 

Sept.  22d. — Major  Drew  has  arrived  with  ten  more  recruits. 
To-day  we  had  a  skeleton  brigade  drill,  Arlington,  McDowell's 
headquarters.      Eight  men  were   detailed   from   each   company   to 
attend  with  the  officers,  each  platoon  being  represented  by  a  pole, 
with  a  man  at  each  end  in  place  of  the  guides. 

Sept.  28th. — The  last  two  days  have  been  rainy  and  disagreeable. 
It  is  evident  that  the  most  disagreeable  season  of  the  year  in  this 
climate  is  upon  us.  The  mud  is  deep,  and  in  camp  particularly  so, 
where  the  unceasing  tramp  of  necessary  travel  punches  the  ground 
into  such  a  condition,  that  you  would  almost  expect  to  see  it  settle 
into  a  perfect  level  everywhere. 

Last  night  several  tents  blew  down,  or  rather  up,  and  left  their 
occupants  "  out  in  the  wet.  "  The  ground  is  becoming  so  soft  that 
to  put  one's  trust  in  tent-pins,  is  to  be  a  victim  of  misplaced  confi 
dence.  It  was  rather  funny  to  see  the  cool  way  in  which  these 
misfortunes  were  met,  the  stoical  resignation  to  fete  and  a  wetting, 
and  the  nonchalant  and  deliberate  putting  of  things  to  rights,  and 
recovering  of  the  waifs  of  personal  property  scattered  over  the 
muddy  deep  around,  in  the  face  of  such  a  blast-driven  storm. 
Boreas  might  have  "  cracked  his  cheeks  "  in  vexation  at  the  sight 
of  it. 

Parade  has  been  twice  omitted  within  the  week,  the  state  of  the 
weather  making  it  impossible. 

On  Sunday  last  (the  22d),  Gen.  McClellan  again  visited  our 
camp.  He  expressed  satisfaction  with  the  result  of  his  inspection. 
Orders  read  on  parade  for  a  brigade  review  before  McClellan  on 
Monday. 

On  Monday,  the  23d,  we  should  have  relieved  the  picket,  but 
were  ordered  to  appear  at  review,  and  go  on  picket  next  day.  At 
eleven  the  regiment  fell  in,  in  heavy  marching  order,  (with  knapsack 
fully  packed,  haversack,  canteen,  and  fully  armed  and  equipped 
throughout,)  and  marched  to  McDowell's  headquarters,  at  Arling 
ton,  where  we  passed  in  review  before  Gens.  McClellan  and 


112  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

McDowell,  Prince  De  Joinville,  and  others.     After  the  review,  the 
Generals,  accompanied  by  the  Prince,  inspected  our  camps. 

At  eight,  on  the  morning-  of  the  24th,  the  left  wing  started  out 
to  relieve  the  picket  at  Ball's  Cross  Roads.  During  the  night 
following,  the  firing  from  the  rebel  line  was  frequent,  and  the  balls 
flew  with  dangerous  precision  around  the  ears  of  our  men  on  post. 
The  fire  was  not  returned,  strict  orders  having  been  given  to  that 
effect.  Towards  morning  our  line  fell  back  a  short  distance,  for 
better  shelter,  from  which  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 
No  further  demonstrations  were  made,  however.  All  through  the 
night  the  cow-bells  were  heard  in  various  directions,  but  our  boys 
knew  well  that  no  milk  was  to  be  had  where  those  bells  were,  and 
the  wily  rebs  had  their  labor  for  their  pains.  The  boys  declared 
that  "  old  gag"  to  be  about  played  out,  and  since  a  party  of  unauth 
orized  foragers  were  "gobbled  up,"  while  following  this  tinkling 
decoy,  the  boys  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  sedulous  notes,  or  with  thumb 
to  nose  and  digits  gyrating,  intimate  in  expressive  pantomime  that 
the  syren  "  can't  come  it." 

In  the  day  time  the  opposing  posts  will  sometimes  agree  to  a 
temporary  truce,  and  being  within  hailing  distance,  hold  a  parley 
for  mutual  information,  and  an  exchange  of  funny  sayings,  and  good 
things  generally,  in  defiance  of  all  the  regulations  to  the  contrary. 
The  first  question  is,  "What  State  are  you  from?"  The  reply 
from  our  side,  if  it  happens  to  be  "Massachusetts,"  is  sure  to  bring 
a  leaden  reply,  and  hostilities  are  immediately  renewed,  for  the 
"rebs"  will  not  stand  on  anything  like  ceremony  with  the  troops 
from  the  State  they  have  such  reason,  as  they  think,  to  detest,  and, 
as  we  know,  to  fear.  But  with  us  they  are  always  willing  to  parley. 
A  large  field,  abandoned  by  the  owners,  and  just  between  the  lines, 
abounds  in  tomatoes,  turnips  and  potatoes.  The  temptation  to 
forage  is  strong,  and  by  mutual  consent  the  men  off  post  on  both 
sides,  leaving  their  arms  behind,  peacefully  dig  and  gather  the  fruits 
of  the  ground  together ;  and  as  yet  no  advantage  of  the  fact  is 
taken  by  either  side.  Strange  sight  for  times  like  these,  but  where 
is  the  harm? 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  the  enemy  were  reported  to  be 
moving,  and  an  attack  was  expected,  for  which  the  force  at  Arling 
ton  were  put  in  readiness,  but  nothing  came  of  it.  Signals  were 
seen  in  front  during  the  night  past,  and  a  heavy  shower  in  the 
morning  was,  perhaps,  the  cause  of  delay  in  their  movements. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  113 

On  the  night  following,  the  whole  rebel  army  were  reported  to 
be  in  motion,  but  we  were  not  disturbed.  Next  day,  the  26th,  we 
were  relieved  by  the  23d  N.  Y.,  and  returned  to  camp. 

On  the  27th,  during  a  storm  of  rain  and  high  wind,  marched 
into  camp  with  a  flourish  of  familiar  strains,  the  Union  Cornet 
Band,  accompanied  by  a  squad  of  recruits,  in  charge  of  Lieut. 
Baker.  The  whole  regiment  turned  out  joyfully  to  meet  them,  and 
drowned  their  music  with  welcoming  cheers.  The  boys  can  now 
glory  in  one  of  the  best  bands  in  the  service,  and  are  no  more,  on 
reviews  and  parades,  to  listen  quietly  to  the  windy  flourishes  of 
their  neighbors  without  a  blast  to  reply  with.  Sergeants  Schermer- 
horn  and  Beebee,  who  have  been  home  on  sick  leave,  returned  with 
him. 

The  recruits  are  fine  fellows,  and  although  arriving  under  such 
dampening  circumstances,  seem  full  of  ardor,  and  well  pleased  with 
their  fortune. 

Several  tents  blew  away  in  the  afternoon,  and  there  was 
another  jolly  scramble  after  the  dry  goods. 

To-day,  the  rain  having  ceased,  most  of  the  men  not  on  other 
duty,  are  engaged  in  clearing  away  a  new  parade  ground  in  the 
rear  of  the  fort.  Stumps  have  to  be  "grubbed"  out,  and  the 
ground  leveled,  and  when  that  is  done  our  camp  will  lack  but  little 
in  the  way  of  improvement. 

We  have  still  to  go  outside  the  guard  line  for  water.  The 
excellent  spring  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  is  nicely  fitted  with  a  couple 
of  casks,  set  into  the  ground,  and  a  bed  of  small  logs  laid  around 
it.  It  has  to  be  guarded  day  and  night,  or  some  enterprising  spy 
might  take  occasion  to  "drop  something"  in  its  crystal  bosom  that 
would  seriously  bother  the  doctor. 

We  are  beginning  to  like  our  new  camp  exceedingly,  and 
under  favorable  weather  it  is  really  a  very  pleasant  stopping  place. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  one  of  our 
officers,*  will  give  a  better  impression  of  its  beauties  than  any  word 
of  mine. 

"  How  many  troops  are  there  here,  my  dear  —  —  ?  Why, 

'  my  eye  hath  not  beheld  them,  neither  hath  the  ear  listened  to  the 
enumeration.'  Wouldn't  you  like  to  get  up  some  fine  morning  and 


*  Capt.  Elisha  A.  Hay  ward,  one  of  our  noblest  comrades,  who  has  since  "  gone  to  his  final 
muster,"  and  his  reward.  This  letter  is  copied  by  permission  of  his  family,  and  the  author  need 
not  apologize  for  its  introduction  here. 


114  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

take  a  stroll  with  me  over  these  beautiful  '  Heights '  of  '  Arlington ' 
— for  they  are  indeed  beautiful — and  listen  to  the  reveille  of  drum 
and  bugle,  again  and  again  repeated  ?  In  all  your  travels  did  you 
ever  get  the  start  of  the  busy  people  of  New  York,  and  as  the 
slumbering  population  awoke  to  the  scenes  of  another  day,  stand  on 
Broadway,  or  near  Washington  Market,  and  see  the  people  pour 
forth  to  enact  their  part  in  the  day's  drama,  or  comedy,  as  may  be? 
If  you  have,  then  you  can  imagine  the  scenes  upon  these  heights — 
though,  of  course,  the  mass  is  ;iot  so  connected — just  as  the  morn 
ing  drum  ceases  to  beat.  Imagine  it  to  be  at  such  an  hour.  The 
'  darkest  just  before  the  light,'  has  softened  into  the  mild  gray  light 
of  very  early  dawn.  You  seem  to  stand  alone  in  the  land  !  Not  a 
thing  is  stirring ;  the  sentinels  seem  to  pace  their  beat  with  a 
noiseless  tread,  and  you  stand  and  wonder  what  power  it  is  that 
keeps  the  mighty  mass  so  silent.  Listen!  Way  off!  and  how  soft 
it  comes,  too,  and  how  almost  like  a  fancy  it  seems  ;  and  yet  you  are 
sure  of  it.  There  it  is  again!  It  is  a  bugle  note  !  the  first  that  has 
awoke  the  echoes — and  it  comes  to  you  as  '  music  on  the  waters.' 
There  goes  another,  and  louder  than  before,  and  yet  another  !  and 
another !  and  still  they  multiply  and  increase,  until  the  \vhole  air 
seems  to  vibrate  with  the  sound  of  bugle  note  and  drum  beat. 

"  Now  let  us  start  out  for  a  walk.  Our  camp  is  alive,  and  the 
first  cries  of  provoked  sergeants  greet  your  ears  at  every  step. 
'  Turn  out  for  roll  call.'  '  Come,  get  up.'  '  Y — e — s,'  mutters  the 
sleepy  soldier,  something  after  the  manner  of  -  -  (and  of 

'  Auld  Lang  Syne,'  myself,  for  that  matter),  when  -  -  sings 

out  in  that  awfully  disturbing  way  of  hers — when  one  is  sleepy — 
'  come,  boys,  breakfast,  b — r — cak—fast  is  all  ready,  and  half-past 
seven,'  — .  '  Turn  out,'  thunders  the  sergeant,  and  '  here, 

corporal,  bring  me  that  pail  of  water,'  starts  the  drowser  to  a  sense 
of  his  semi-amphibious  condition.  We  walk  on  ;  we  pass  camp 
after  camp,  all  bustling  with  life,  and  finally  we  ascend  to  the  very 
top  of  a  high  hill,  from  whence  we  can  see  a  considerable  extent  of 
country.  Arithmatides !  how  the  hills  and  vales  are  dotted  with 
the  white  canvas  of  our  tents !  There,  standing  proudly  upon  the 
summit  of  a  gradual  rise,  is  situated  the  impregnable  '  Fort 
Corcoran.'  Inside,  all  is  bustling  with  life.  There,  just  discernible 
amidst  the  wood,  is  another  camp,  and  here,  and  there,  and  every 
where  the  land  is  covered  with  our  tents,  and  peopled  with  our 
brave  men.  At  sunrise,  and  at  sunset,  a  '  forest  of  bayonets  '  testifies 
the  northern  devotion  to  the  Union.  Now  do  you  ask  me  how 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  115 

many  troops  there  are  upon  the  Potomac  !     I  don't  know  ;  enough 
that  I  believe  there  are  enough  to  triumph. 

"  I  fully  believe  that  we  shall  advance  before  many  days.  The 
officers  are  ordered  to  cut  their  baggage  down  to  eighty  pounds, 
and  in  a  short  time  we  are  to  have  a  preparatory  march,  and  during 
our  absence  the  baggage  is  to  be  weighed,  and  all  over  that  to 
be  rejected.  To-day  (i8th)  Gen.  McDowell  was  here,  and  ordered 
our  quartermaster  to  make  a  requisition  for  the  amount  of  transpor 
tation  required  for  our  regiment.  Don't  that  look  like  a  march  ? 
Day  before  yesterday  we  were  thoroughly  inspected,  and  every 
thing  we  lack  is  to  be  furnished  forthwith.  To-day,  according  to 
orders  from  headquarters,  the  companies  of  our  brigade,  and  I 
suppose  of  the  whole  army,  marched  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour, 
with  knapsacks,  haversacks  and  canteens  slung,  and  we  are  required 
to  increase  the  time  fifteen  minutes  each  day.  Don't  that  look  like 
an  advance  ?  " 

The  second  Buffalo  regiment  (49th  N.  Y.  V.)  arrived  in  Wash 
ington  September  i8th,  and  crossed  the  river  soon  after.  D.  D. 
Bidwell,  the  well  known  former  Captain  of  "  D,"  74th  N.  Y.  N.  G., 
is  Colonel  of  the  new  regiment.  The  49th  is  said  to  be  a  fine  body 
oi  men,  and  already  under  good  discipline.  Many  of  our  old 
friends  are  members,  and  a  fraternal  regard  already  exists  between 
the  two  commands,  notwithstanding  a  spirit  of  generous  rivalry 
between  our  "veterans  "  of  four  months  and  the  new  comers. 

William  C.  Alberger,  formerly  ist  Lieutenant  of  "  D,"  74th, 
and  since  Captain  of  the  company  bearing  the  same  letter  in  "  ours," 
is  their  Lieut. -Colonel,  and  Lieut.  William  F.  Wheeler,  from  the 
same  company,  is  now  Captain  of  Company  "  D,"  of  the  49th.  We 
regretted  to  lose  these  able  and  much  liked  officers.  Lieut.  Geo. 
M.  Baker,  and  Sergeants  Byron  Schermerhorn  and  Henry  C.  Beebee 
fill  the  vacancies  caused  by  these  promotions  from  our  regiment. 

Horace  L.  Dunlap,  a  private  in  "  C  "  Company,  left  the  regi 
ment  on  the  last  day  of  August  on  a  furlough,  to  visit  his  wife  and 
family  in  Kansas.  Being  detained  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  he  fell  in 
with  an  old  friend,  arid  through  him  received  the  appointment  of  ist 
Lieutenant  of  "  G  "  Company,  5oth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers, 
and  has  been  transferred  accordingly. 

Morris  Alberger,  Orderly  of  (i  D,"  has  been  appointed  Sergeant 
Major  in  the  place  of  George  M.  Love,  who  has  left  us  to  be  a  ist 
Lieutenant  in  the  People's  Ellsworth  Regiment. 


Il6  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

John  F.  Stowe,  also  of  "  D,"  has  procured  a  discharge  in  order 
to  enter  the  navy,  a  position  for  which  his  maritime  experience 
admirably  fits  him. 

Arnold  Harris,  of  "  B,"  has  also  entered  the  navy,  having  been 
appointed  Master's  Mate  of  the  gunboat  Freeborn. 

Capt.  George  D.  Clinton  and  Lieut.  Samuel  P.  Gail  are  in 
Washington  on  sick  leave.  Lieuts.  Vallier  and  Doyle,  and  Ser 
geants  Irvvin  and  Blatchford,  are  still  recruiting  for  the  regiment  in 
Buffalo. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  members  of  our  band  : — 
Peter  Cramer,  Jr.,  leader;  F.  Federlein,  Philip  Young,  H.  Kehr,  H. 
Nebrich,  Philip  Kehr,  P.  Interbitzen,  D.  Nebrich,  Alex.  Stein,  Chas. 
Nebrich,  O.  Shuggins,  O.  Kuehn,  Joseph  Young,  J.  Shottner,  F. 
Jacky,  Thomas  Dodds,  F.  Steinmueller,  and  Peter  Young. 

Corporal  Wilcox,  of  "  C,"  accidentally  shot  himself,  while 
cleaning  his  revolver,  on  the  28th,  the  ball  lodging  in  the  bones  of 
his  right  hand  in  such  a  way  that  the  Surgeon  could  not  extract  it. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  1 17 


CHAPTER     V. 


The  advance  on  Upton's  Hill. — Our  new  Camp. — We  are  to  build  a  Fort. — All  afloat. — Fort  Buffalo 
finished. — "  All  quiet  on  trie  Potomac." — A  black  day  in  our  calendar. — The  funeral  of  Egbert 
Wallace. — The  grand  review  of  November  2oth. — A  rush  for  glory. — Thanksgiving  Day  in 
camp. — Picket  Duty. — A  midnight  alarm,  and  the  Porkers  routed. — Lying  in  "anguish." — A 
review  by  Governor  Morgan. — A  new  camp  and  winter  quarters. — Another  disappointment. — A 
sham  battle. — Foraging. — Merry  Christmas. — We  close  our  account  with  the  year  1861,  and 
strike  a  balance  sheet. 


OUR  last  chapter  closed  while  we  were  finishing-  our  camp,  and 
making  our  final  preparations  for  a  comfortable  occupancy 
of  the  same,  for  the  time  we  might  be  obliged  to  spend  there.  A 
longer  experience  of  the  mutability  of  any  and  every  condition  of 
life  in  the  field,  would  have  shown  us  the  futility  of  expecting-  to 
reap  the  reward  of  our  labors. 

The  soldier  rarely  has  time  to  make  himself  at  home  in  any  one 
place.  Where  he  expects  to  stop  but  for  a  night,  his  tent,  if  he  has 
one,  may  remain  for  weeks.  But  let  him  turn  his  attention  to  improve 
ments,  in  despair  of  soon  changing  place  again,  and  lo !  no  sooner 
has  he  securely  fortified  himself  against  sun,  wind  and  rain, 
made  his  surroundings  as  pleasant  as  possible,  and  made  all  possible 
preparation  for  their  utmost  enjoyment,  than  "  strike  tents,"  says 
the  bugle,  and  down  comes  his  house.  The  momentary  feeling  of 
disappointment  is,  however,  usually  lost  in  the  satisfaction  of  being 
again  on  the  march,  and  the  excitement  of  new  scenes  and  experi 
ences.  Although  we  had  long  been  prepared  for  another  advance, 
yet,  so  often  had  we  been  disappointed,  that  we  had  ceased  to  think 
of  it  except  as  a  remote  possibility,  and  little  thought  the  time  of 
our  stay  was  so  near  its  end. 

On  Saturday,  the  28th  day  of  September,  1861,  we  of  the 
Twenty- First  were  busily  engaged  in  putting  the  finishing  touches 
to  our  pleasant  home  in  the  woods,  christened  in  remembrance  of 
those  on  far  away  Erie,  "  Camp  Buffalo."  Our  log  guard  house 
was  nearly  completed,  and  little  remained  to  do  but  to  clear  away 
the  stumps  and  level  our  new  parade  ground,  just  in  rear  of  the 
fort ;  and  this  work,  a  large  detail,  armed  with  axes,  picks  and 
spades,  was  fast  completing. 


IlS  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

In  camp  all  was  quiet.  The  afternoon  was  warm,  and  the  men 
off  duty  lay  in  lazy  repose  among-  the  trees,  or  in  their  tents,  until 
just  as  the  sun  seemed  to  have  withdrawn  his  forces  for  a  more 
effective  demonstration  upon  the  already  blazing  gates  of  the  West, 
and  the  zephyr  skirmishers  of  the  night  breeze  lifted  and  swayed 
the  tent  curtains,  and  rustled  the  leaves,  came  the  tap  of  that  inex 
orable  drum,  rudely  disturbing  many  a  pleasant  reverie,  and  waking 
the  woods  around  with  its  echoes. 

"  Fall  in  for  parade  !  " 

Growling  while  they  put  on  the  garments  thrown  off  for  com 
fort,  and  lagging  listlessly  through  other  preparations,  the  men 
saunter  into  their  place  in  file,  slowly  form  in  two  ranks,  number  off 
by  twos,  and  lazily  drop  their  muskets  to  an  "  order,"  while  the  roll 
is  called. 

Now  observe  the  dreamy,  lack-lustre  eyes,  expressive  of 
nothing,  and  suggestive  only  of  weariness  and  inertia ;  the  stolid, 
immobile  faces,  the  dawdling  attitudes,  and  the  feeble  response 
when  a  name  is  called,  and  you  will  say  that  in  one  of  these  lines 
which  nearly  fill  a  company  street,  there  is  not  life  enough  to  get 
up  one  healthy  pulse  ;  that  a  shower  of  shell  would  hardly  waken 
in  them  sufficient  life  even  to  enable  them  to  run  away. 

No? 

Well,  look  again.  A  mounted  orderly  comes  crashing  through 
the  woods,  making  the  leaves  fly  in  his  wake,  directly  for  the  Colo 
nel's  tent.  A  moment's  anxious  pause,  and  the  long  roll  rattles  out. 
Ha !  look  now  !  Don't  you  feel  the  swell  of  that  sudden  pulse- 
wave,  as  it  sends  a  flush  to  the  face  and  sparkles  to  the  eyes  of 
every  man  in  that  line.  Are  they  the  sticks  they  looked  to  be  but 
a  moment  ago  ?  Now,  there  is  life  in  every  face,  each  foot  is  firmly 
planted,  every  musket  lighter  in  the  tightened  grasp,  and  with  a 
cheer  the  companies  hasten  to  their  places  in  line.  A  sick  soldier 
comes  with  an  assumed  firmness  in  his  tread,  and  the  fever  flush  on 
his  wasted  cheek,  and  his  captain  orders  him  back  to  his  tent. 

We  had  not  long  to  wait.  The  brigade  was  in  line,  and  soon 
orders  from  Gen.  Wadsworth  arrived,  and  the  Twenty- First,  taking 
the  right,  led  the  advance.  As  soon  as  we  cleared  the  woods,  and 
the  condition  of  the  road  would  allow, -we  took  up  the  "double 
quick,"  and  soon  reached  "  Ball's,"  passed  our  old  picket  stations, 
and  our  own  outposts,  and  soon  reached  the  railroad  just  abandoned 
by  the  rebels.  At  this  place  its  course  was  through  a  gorge,  side 
by  side  with  a  stream  of  some  size,  and  just  beyond,  the  steep  hill- 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  1 19 

side  was  deeply  cut  by  the  road,  which  was  still  very  abrupt  in  its 
ascent,  and  blockaded  by  large  trees  thrown  in  to  impede  our 
advance. 

Before  reaching  this  point,  Gen.  Wadsworth,  who  had  precede4 
us  with  his  staff,  met  us,  and  requested  our  Colonel  to  use  more 
haste.  He  replied  that  the  long-  distance  we  had  already  accom 
plished  at  the  double  quick  forbade  our  being  urged  to  greater 
speed,  but  when  the  old  General  called  for  two  companies  to  hurry 
on  in  advance  as  skirmishers,  the  whole  regiment  broke  with  a  yell 
into  a  run,  thus  declaring  their  determination  to  be  still  foremost  in 
the  race.  The  pieces  were  loaded  without  halting,  and  as  we  neared 
the  hillside  capable  of  such  easy  defence  against  us,  our  long- 
winded,  ci-devant  firemen  felt  the  advantage  their  experience  at  the 
drag  ropes  of  hose  cart  or  "machine"  gave  them  over  the  regi 
ments  in  the  rear,  in  case  of  resistance  at  this  point. 

At  the  foot  of  the  ascent  our  speed  was  lessened,  and  we  were 
obliged  to  work  slowly  around  the  obstructions,  but  meeting  no 
stronger  opposition,  soon  reached  the  top,  and  then  it  was  that  we 
saw  how  formidable  this  position  might  have  been  made. 

Soon  after  we  passed  Gen.  McClellan,  who  said  something 
about  "  the  right  regiment  in  the  right  place,"  to  which  compliment 
the  boys  answered  with  as  loud  a  cheer  as  the  state  of  their  wind 
would  permit.  From  one  of  his  staff  we  learned  that  the  enemy 
were  falling  back  in  every  direction. 

Twilight  was  deepening  into  darkness  as  we  reached  the  summit 
of  Upton's  Hill,  and  when  we  halted  at  the  place  of  our  bivouac 
for  the  night,  it  was  dark.  This  was  upon  a  road  crossing  the 
Leedsburg  turnpike,  and  which  we  followed  to  the  northern  slope 
of  the  hill,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  right.  The  night  was 
damp  and  chilly,  our  clothing  saturated,  and  limbs  stiffened  with 
our  exertions,  and  neither  overcoats  nor  blankets  had  been  brought, 
for  in  the  hurry  they  must  have  been  thrown  aside  upon  the 
road.  To  crown  the  discomforts  of  the  position,  no  fires  could  be 
built,  until  the  moon  rose,  near  midnight,  and  lessened  the  danger 
of  thus  drawing  the  attention  of  the  enemy. 

Several  times  during  the  night  we  were  roused  by  firing  in  our 
immediate  vicinity,  once  forming  line,  but  soon  returning  to  our' 
fires  again.  Once  the  fire  commenced  quite  briskly,  and  we  heard 
the  noisy  charge  of  a  troop  of  horse  on  our  left,  with  cries  ot  "  Cut 
'em  down!"  and  a  chorus  of  demon  like  yells.  Once  more  all 
became  quiet,  and  we  were  not  roused  again  until  the  reveille  caused 


120  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

each  to  stretch  his  cramped  limbs  and  resume  that  position  which 
indicates  man  as  the  u  lord  of  creation." 

The  "  two  days'  cooked  rations,"  orders  for  the  preparation  of 
which  had  so  long  been  a  by-word  with  the  witty  skeptics  of  Camp 
Buffalo,  now  furnished  a  hearty  breakfast,  washed  down  with 
copious  drafts  of  spring  water  from  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  then 
we  proceeded  to  make  ourselves  familiar  as  possible  with  our  new 
position. 

Upton's  Hill  is  a  considerably  elevated  ridge,  about  a  mile  in 
length,  running  north  and  south,  and  commanding  a  considerable 
extent  of  country,  both  in  front  and  rear.  Miner's  and  Hall's  Hills 
on  the  right,  and  Munson's  on  the  left,  are  continuations  of  the  same 
line  of  natural  defenses.  In  front,  and  about  half  a  mile  away,  is 
the  village  of  Falls  Church.  Munson's  Hill  was  "taken"  by  the 
2d  Michigan,  at  the  same  time  that  we  occupied  this.  From  the 
formidable  display  of  apparently  strong  fortifications,  and  its 
rumored  strength  of  armament,  a  severe  struggle  for  possession  had 
been  anticipated. 

The  surprise  of  the  attacking  party  may  be  imagined,  when, 
after  charging  up  the  steep  bank,  and  over  the  light  breastwork, 
they  found  not  a  bayonet  to  oppose  them,  and  the  cannon  so  form 
idable  at  a  distance  turned  out  to  be  only  a  few  pump  logs,  and 
some  old  stove  pipe  on  wheels,  of  which  the  boys  triumphantly 
took  possession.  It  was  at  first  proposed  to  spike  them,  but  having 
no  rat-tail  files  handy,  they  contented  themselves  with  merely 
pointing  them  in  the  other  direction.  The  works  were  the  merest 
sham,  amounting  to  nothing  but  a  show  of  fresh  earth,  calculated  to 
deceive  the  eye  at  the  distance  of  a  mile  or  so,  or  even  much 
nearer.  A  really  strong  fortification  has  already  begun  to  take  its 
place. 

Why  we  halt  here  no  one  seems  to  know.  It  is  rumored,  how 
ever,  that  McClellan  will  fortify  the  strong  positions  gained,  and  use 
them  as  a  basis  of  future  operations.  Falls  Church  is  at  present 
our  most  advanced  post  in  this  direction,  and  the  rebel  pickets  are 
but  a  short  distance  beyond. 

This  morning  (Sunday)  our  overcoats  and  blankets  arrived, 
together  with  rations  of  bread,  pork  arid  coffee.  A  detail  from 
each  company  are  engaged  in  clearing  the  ground  on  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  just  to  the  left  and  rear  of  Falls  Church,  where  our  regi 
ment  is  to  build  a  fort.  We  learned  this  morning  that  a  scouting 
party  returning  from  the  front  last  night  were  fired  upon  by  a 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  121 

California  regiment,  and  several  men  killed,  the  result  of  careless 
ness  in  not  having  the  countersign.  Some  of  the  men  have  been 
foraging  among  the  deserted  rebel  mansions  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  house  of  Major  Nutt,  which  its  gallant  owner  hastily  evacuated 
the  day  of  our  advance,  stands,  or  did  stand,  about  a  mile  north  of 
the  hill.  A  party  of  Blenker's  men,  probably  carrying  out  the 
precepts  of  old  world  warfare,  have  completely  demolished  it, 
together  with  that  portion  of  the  contents  which  they  did  not  choose 
to  carry  away.  The  remains  of  a  fine  piano  and  other  heavy  furni 
ture  litter  the  grounds ;  the  garden  and  outbuildings  are  sacked 
and  destroyed,  and  the  stock  appropriated  by  the  ravagers. 

Monday,  Sept.  3Oth. — This  morning  all  set  to  work  cutting 
away  the  trees  on  the  northern  slope,  where  our  new  camp  is  to  be. 
In  the  afternoon  our  wagon  train  arrived,  bringing  the  sick,  all  our 
camp  stores,  equipage  and  tents.  An  hour  afterward  saw  every 
tent  in  its  place,  and  once  more  we  were  in  a  situation  of  compara 
tive  comfort. 

The  enemy  are  reported  to  be  fortifying  Centreville  and 
Manassas.  Their  advance  force  is  at  Fairfax  C.  H. 

Friday,  Oct.  4th. — Our  new  camp  is  finished,  and  we  call  it 
"  Camp  Rogers,"  in  honor  of  our  good  Colonel.  We  have  also 
finished  clearing  the  site  of  our  fort,  and  to-day,  in  the  presence  of 
Gens.  McClellan  and  McDowell,  and  our  own  fatherly  old  Briga 
dier,  the  left  wing,  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  broke  ground  for 
the  trench,  Col.  Rogers  turning  the  first  spadeful.  Rev.  Mr. 
De  Puy,  of  Buffalo,  offered  a  prayer,  or  rather  asked  a  blessing 
upon  our  labors,  and  we  fell  to  with  a  will.  In  the  afternoon  the 
right  wing  relieved  us-. 

From  the  scene  of  our  labors  we  occasionally  get  sight  of  a 
troop  of  mounted  rebels,  only  a  mile  or  so  away,  upon  the  hills  in 
front,  and  occasionally  shells  go  screeching  through  the  air  over 
head  in  search  of  them.  The  fire  is  sometimes  returned,  but  to 
little  effect. 

Monday,  Oct.  yth. — Thanks  to  fortune,  myself  and  tent  mates 
have  still  a  shelter  above  our  heads,  and  we  are  led  to  look  calmly 
upon  our  minor  misfortunes,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  so  many  of  our 
comrades  had  not  even  that  comfort  this  wild,  wet  and  dismal  morn 
ing.  Last  evening  came  one  of  the  most  sudden  and  severe  storms 
of  rain,  hail  arid  wind,  thunder  and  lightning,  that  it  was  ever  our 
lot  to  witness.  It  was  terrific.  Pellets  of  ice  as  large  as  walnuts 
rattled  against  our  canvas  roofs,  and  fairly  paved  the  streets.  At 


122  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

tattoo  the  storm  had  not  abated,  and  about  midnight  I  awoke  to 
find  the  water  sweeping,  a  foot  in  depth,  under  my  bunk,  which  is 
built  according  to  the  prevalent  style  in  camp,  of  poles  raised  on 
crotches  some  distance  from  the  ground.  By  raising  the  sides  of 
our  tent  as  high  as  possible,  we  managed  to  give  the  flood  free 
passage,  and  fortunately  we  had  driven  our  stakes  deep.  Rescuing 
our  various  items  of  personal  property  from  the  threatening  waters, 
we  rolled  up  our  bedding,  and  piled  them  upon  it,  and  then,  with 
the  torrent  sweeping  under  our  feet,  wre  roosted  disconsolate  until 
dawn  lighted  the  dismal  scene. 

An  old  water  course,  which  cuts  the  camp  diagonally,  is  swollen 
to  a  miniature  river,  and  woful  indeed  is  the  plight  of  those  who 
unthinkingly  built  in  its  course.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  are  collected 
amid  the  debris  of  the  camp,  tents,  knapsacks,  accoutrements, 
everything  that  could  be  washed  away,  and  amid  the  ruin  half  the 
regiment  are  poking  about  for  lost  property  ;  worst  of  all,  our 
rations  of  bread  and  coffee  are  spoiled,  and  half  the  cooking  traps 
have  taken  a  furlough. 

All  the  morning  we  worked  in  the  trenches  of  our  fort  knee 
deep  in  water.  Verily,  fighting  is  not  the  hardest  duty  of  the  soldier, 
and  patience  is  a  rare  virtue.  Still,  while  the  Quartermaster's  whis 
key  lasts,  this  may  be  endured,  at  what  future  cost,  who  cares  ? 

The  rebels  are  still  making  our  pickets  near  Falls  Church  the 
object  of  their  target  practice.  Yesterday  a  couple  of  their  shells 
burst  in  the  woods  just  below  our  camp.  The  battery  on  the  hill 
above  us  immediately  unlimbered  one  of  their  Parrott  guns,  and 
sent  a  few  heavy  shells  where  the  smoke  indicated  the  position  of 
their  batteries,  which  had  the  effect  of  silencing  them. 

In  the  afternoon  we  had  an  excellent  sermon  from  the  Rev.  Mr. 
De  Puy,  for  which  the  regiment  gave  him  a  vote  of  thanks. 

Thursday,  Oct.  24th. — At  last  our  fort  is  finished,  and  picks 
and  spades  are  off  duty  once  more,  for  which  we  are  heartily  thank 
ful,  while  we  look  with  pride  upon  the  broad,  firm  parapet,  the  deep, 
wide  ditch,  with  its  threatening  hem  of  abattis,  and  the  neat,  strong 
stockade  our  hands  have  built.  It  is  a  scientific  work,  and  really  a 
formidable  defense,  although  only  intended  for  seven  guns.  It  will 
have  no  permanent  armament  or  garrison.  When  called  upon  to 
name  their  work,  the  men  unanimously  elected  to  call  it  "  Fort 
Rogers,"  but  our  noble  Colonel,  with  characteristic  modesty, 
"  begged  off,"  and  accordingly  the  choice  fell  upon  the  next  best 
name,  "  Fort  Buffalo." 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  123 

The  labor  of  its  construction  has  not  occupied  all  the  time  since 
its  beginning,  but  has  afforded  an  appropriate  and  agreeable  offset 
to  our  other  duties,  alternating  with  drills  in  battalion,  brigade,  and 
division;  and  numerous  inspections,  reviews  and  parades. 

For  the  past  two  weeks  the  days  have  been  pleasant,  with  few 
exceptions,  and  the  nights  bitterly  cold.  Many  of  the  boys  are 
building  winter  quarters,  raising  their  tents  upon  logs  cut  in  the 
woods  below,  and  backed  up  the  hill.  Gen.  Wadsworth  has  estab 
lished  his  headquarters  in  a  house  upon  the  summit  of  the  hill,  in 
front  of  which  a  fort  is  being  built,  and  a  telegraph  connects  it  with 
McDowell's,  at  Arlington.  Everything  indicates  a  prolonged  stay, 
and  we  now  expect  at  least  to  winter  here. 

"  All  quiet  on  the  Potomac,"  is  still  the  gist  of  the  daily  tele 
graph  reports,  and  we  of  the  rank  and  file  hardly  know  whether  to 
laugh  with  the  stay-at-homes,  who  always  mock  at  what  they  do 
not  understand,  or  to  take  dignified  refuge  in  the  belief  that  we  do 
understand  the  delay,  and  that  it  is  a  necessary  one.  Meantime,  it 
makes  little  difference  whether  we  do  or  not,  except  in  so  far  as  we 
influence  the  opinions  of  our  friends  in  the  masses  at  home,  who 
represent  what  is  called  "  public  opinion,"  a  power  which  few 
leaders  care  to  ignore. 

For  the  past  three  days  the  weather  has  been  rainy  and  disa 
greeable.  We  seem  to  have  taken  a  last  farewell  of  all  the  poetry 
of  camp  life.  Under  the  influence  of  these  "  melancholy  days,  the 
saddest  of  the  year,"  added  to  the  gloomy  effect  of  the  general 
threadbareness  of  nature's  livery,  we  sit  for  days  under  leaky 
canvas,  or  slip  about  in  the  mud — wet,  cold  and  uncomfortable  gen 
erally — and  the  sky  never  showing  a  bit  of  the  "  true  blue  "  from 
dismal  morning  until  murky  night.  No  wonder  that  the  heart 
barometer  sinks  to  the  lowest  degree  short  of  positive  melancholy. 
Still  the  boys  stand  it  nobly,  and  with  their  letter  writing — that 
infallible  antidote  to  the  blues — their  cards,  and  the  various  kinds 
of  fun  improvised  by  the  humorists  of  the  camp,  we  manage  to 
beguile  the  tedium  of  this  "winter  of  our  discontent"  to  some 
degree. 

On  the  loth,  private  Mathewson  lost  his  left  hand  by  the  acci 
dental  discharge  of  his  musket. 

The  49th  have  had  a  skirmish  some  distance  to  our  left.  On 
the  i6th,  a  detachment  in  command  of  Lieut. -Col.  Alberger,  made 
a  reconnoissance  of  the  position  held  by  the  enemy  upon  a  hill  near 
the  picket  line.  They  were  fired  upon  from  the  hill,  but  continued 


124  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

to  advance,  and  the  enemy  fell  back  before  their  fire.  Night  coming 
on,  and  their  force  being  too  small  for  further  operations,  they  in 
turn  fell  back,  and  regained  their  camp.  But  one  man  was  wounded. 
Lieut.  Algar  Wheeler,  of  the  Twenty-First,  was  present,  and  took 
part  in  the  performance. 

On  the  same  day,  Adjutant  Sternberg  returned  to  camp  with 
fourteen  recruits  from  Buffalo.  They  are  a  fine  lot  of  fellows. 

We  have  several  times  been  ordered  to  prepare  for  an  advance, 
but  we  are  getting  used  to  that,  and  take  it  as  a  matter  of  course. 

Monday,  Nov.  4th. — This  is  a  black  day  in  our  calendar.  Last 
night,  one  hour  before  midnight,  Sergeant  Egbert  Wallace,  "  B  " 
Company,  died  of  typhoid  fever. 

From  that  low  cot  in  the  hospital  tent,  around  which  might 
stand  none  nearer  of  kin  than  his  brothers  in  arms,  while  the  wild 
night  tempest  wailed  and  sobbed  without,  like  a  dirge  for  the  young 
life  ebbing  there,  went  out  another  free  soul. 

Few  knew  young  Wallace  but  to  love  him.  Possessed  of  many 
endearing  qualities,  the  light  heart  and  generous  impulses  of  youth, 
with  all  the  energy  and  ambitious  fire  of  maturer  years,  his  loss  is 
severely  felt  by  his  sorrowing  comrades,  by  whom  his  memory  will 
ever  be  sincerely  cherished. 

This  is  the  first  death  from  disease  in  our  regiment  since  its 
organization,  a  fact  to  be  wondered  at,  when  we  remember  that  no 
regiment  has  been  more  exposed  to  unhealthy  influence,  or  suffered 
more  from  severe  and  general  illness.  While  men  have  been  dying 
daily  in  the  camps  around,  we,  thanks  to  the  care  and  skill  of  Dr. 
Wilcox,  and  his  assistant,  Dr.  Peters,  have  been  passed  over  until 
now.  May  the  future  be  as  well  for  us  in  this  respect,  and  if  death 
must  reap  from  these  goodly  ranks,  let  it  be  on  the  battle  field. 

Wednesday,  Nov.  6th. — This  morning  all  attended  the  funeral 
services  of  Egbert  Wallace.  It  was  a  most  impressive  scene.  A 
soldier's  funeral.  Not  under  the  dim  canopy  of  one  of  man's 
temples  ;  not  blocked  by  a  sight-seeing  crowd,  nor  followed  by  a 
train  of  showy  vehicles,  whose  occupants  may  to-morrow  forget  the 
dead  in  his  narrow  house ;  but  under  God's  free  dome,  from  which 
the  storm  canopy  floated  aside  the  while,  attended  by  comrades 
whose  grim  faces  bear  traces  of  unusual  tears,  and  heralded  to  the 
last  abode  by  the  wailing  of  brazen  throats,  and  the  mournful  tuck 
of  muffled  drums. 

At  ten,  a  detachment  from  each  of  the  companies,  with  "  B" 
entire,  fell  in  and  formed  in  two  lines  in  front  of  the  Colonel's  tent, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  125 

resting;  upon  their  arms,  and  facing  each  other;  surrounded  by  the 
remainder  of  the  regiment,  assembled  without  arms.  A  stretcher 
was  placed  in  the  centre  for  a  bier,  and  then,  with  the  flag  at  half 
mast,  and  each  head  uncovered,  while  the  band  played  a  mournful 
dirge,  the  coffin,  borne  by  four  comrades,  and  preceded  by  the 
Chaplain,  approached  the  centre  of  the  square,  from  the  tent  where 
the  body  had  lain  in  state.  The  burial  service,  always  impressive 
and  beautiful,  seemed  more  so  than  ever, —  so  in  keeping  with  its 
solemnity  were  all  the  surroundings. 

A  short  sermon  from  the  Chaplain,  with  a  moral  from  the  life 
and  death  of  our  young  comrade,  arid  then  a  flag  draped  ambulance 
approached  ;  the  striped  and  starry  emblem  of  the  cause  he  came 
to  fight  for,  hid  him  from  our  view  ;  the  slow,  sad  strains  of  the 
dead  march  followed  it  away,  and  the  escort  wheeled  slowly  into 
the  rear. 

In  the  far  away  home  his  family  wait  to  receive  him,  for  among 
the  graves  of  his  kindred  they  would  have  him  rest,  so  the  last  sad 
duty  belongs  not  to  us.  At  Arlington  the  escort  fire  a  parting 
salute  and  return  sadly  to  camp. 

The  weather  lately  is  very  rainy  and  cold,  and  not  the  most 
favorable  for  an  introduction  to  camp  life.  I  fear  the  recruits  who 
arrived  this  morning  will  have  a  hard  time  of  it. 

Nov.  8th. —  To-day  we  received  our  pay  for  the  months  of 
September  and  October,  in  the  new  treasury  notes  or  "  greenbacks." 

Wednesday,  Nov.  2oth. —  A  memorable  day  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  Sixty  thousand  men  to-day  passed  in  review  before 
the  President  and  General  McClellan.  At  eight  this  morning,  with 
all  things  prepared  as  if  for  a  long  march,  we  fell  in  and  took  our 
way  to  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  where  the  immense  waste,  cleared  of 
trees,  fences  and  other  obstructions,  affords  splendid  review  ground. 

Upon  all  roads,  columns  of  foot  and  horse,  and  trains  of 
artillery,  were  verging  to  this  point,  and  in  every  direction  the 
morning  sun  gleamed  back  from  lines  of  bayonets,  and  the  wind 
mingled  the  notes  of  martial  music  from  many  bands. 

We  reached  our  position  near  the  centre  of  the  ground  at 
about  nine,  and  from  that 'time  until  after  noon  the  troops  continued 
to  pour  in  from  every  point,  until  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach 
might  be  seen  the  dark  masses,  thickly  covering  the  plain,  and 
glittering  with  polished  arms.  Seven  divisions, —  McCall's, 
McDowell's,  Heintzleman's,  Porter's,  Franklin's,  Blenker's  and 
Smith's, —  comprising  ninety  regiments  of  infantry,  twenty  batteries, 


126  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

and  nine  regiments  of  cavalry,  making-  a  total  of  nearly  sixty 
thousand  men,  were  gathered  within  a  space  of  three  square  miles. 
A  more  magnificent  spectacle  is  rarely  seen.  It  was  heart  stirring. 

Soon  after  noon,  we  heard  in  the  distance  the  swell  of  the  music 
and  thunder  of  cannon,  announcing  that  the  commander  was 
approaching.  It  was  some  time  before  he  reached  our  part  of  the 
held,  and  we  stood  waiting  and  listening  to  the  cheers  which,  in 
defiance  of  all  discipline,  greeted  him  as  he  rode  along  the  line. 
McDowell,  who  prefers  always  military  propriety  rather  than 
popularity,  was  peremptory  in  ordering  his  division  to  avoid 
"disgracing  themselves"  in  such  a  manner;  but  when  "little  Mac" 
came  in  sight,  even  the  presence  of  our  stern  old  division  com 
mander,  and  the  warning  glance  of  his  eye  as  he  attended  the  Chief 
along  his  lines,  could  not  suppress  an  occasional  cheer.  Our  own 
regiment,  however,  kept  silence. 

As  he  approached,  band  after  band  took  up  the  strain,  "  Hail 
to  the  Chief,"  and  every  musket  was  brought  to  a  "present."  As 
he  passed  he  scanned  the  ranks  with  a  quick  eye,  occasionally 
addressing  some  remark  to  the  President,  who  rode  by  his  side,  or 
to  one  of  the  accompanying  generals,  seemingly  well  pleased. 
More  than  an  hour  was  thus  occupied,  although  they  rode  fast  from 
line  to  line ;  and  then  McClellan  took  his  stand  on  the  north  side  of 
the  plain,  surrounded  by  his  staff,  while  in  the  rear  were  grouped 
the  thousands  of  civilians  who  had  crossed  to  see  the  display, 
among  whom  the  ladies  seemed  most  numerous,  and  waved  their 
white  hands  and  handkerchiefs  with  commendable  perseverance. 

The  infantry  passed  in  close  column  by  division,  the  cavalry  in 
company  front,  and  it  took  four  liours  and  thirty -six  minutes  for  all 
to  pass  in  review,  although  in  as  close  order  as  possible.  It  was 
rumored  that  the  object  of  the  review  was  to  select  the  best  troops 
for  special  service,  and  every  regiment  did  its  very  best.  As  the 
Twenty-First  wheeled  into  column,  the  Colonel  said  "Now,  steady, 
boys!  remember  your  reputation  is  at  stake," — and  we  did 
remember  it,  every  elbow  just  touched  its  neighbor,  our  feet  touched 
the  ground  together,  as  if  controlled  by  some  unseen  clockwork, 
every  eye  was  fixed  to  the  front  as  though  frozen  in  its  socket,  and 
every  mouth  firmly  closed.  I  don't  think  a  single  face  relaxed  one 
iota  even  when  McClellan  was  plainly  heard  to  say,  "That  is  well 
done,  men," — but  all  heard  it,  and  remember  it  in  mutual 
gratulations. 

We  returned  to  camp  at  dark. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  I2J 

Thursday,  Nov.  28th,  1861, —  and  Thanksgiving  day. —  Have 
been  solacing  myself  with  the  idea  that  we  might  be  infinitely 
worse  situated,  and  trying  to  be  very  thankful  for  my  plate  of 
hominy,  and  slice  of  green  fat  pork.  Can't  help  looking  a  little  on 
the  other  side,  too,  and  comparing  the  present  with  past  thanks 
givings.  Result,  a  heavy  balance  in  favor  of  the  latter. 

Everybody  seems  to  be  very  much  lost  to-day.  For  a  wonder, 
there  are  no  drills,  and  every  man  you  meet  looks  as  if  he  had  a 
holiday  and  didn't  know  what  to  do  with  it.  I  think  if  they  could 
sit  down  with  their  friends  at  home  to-day,  they  would  be  content 
to  take  hominy  for  dinner  during  the  next  three  hundred  and 
sixty-five. 

Balloon  reconnoissances  have  been  renewed  on  this  part  of  the 
line.  A  week  ago  to-day,  Prof.  Lowe's  monster  observatory  made 
its  appearnce  again  in  our  neighborhood.  On  Sunday,  the  24th, 
some  snow  fell,  and  next  day  we  took  our  first  turn  of  picket  duty 
on  the  new  line. 

After  posting  the  men  ol  the  first  relief,  the  reserve,  in 
command  of  Gen.  Wadsworth,  proceeded  to  secure  some  forage, 
consisting  of  a  large  quantity  of  corn,  hay,  and  oats,  together  with 
some  sixty  head  of  cattle,  at  the  farm  known  as  "  Doolan's,"  about 
a  mile  beyond  the  lines. 

A  detachment  of  the  3Oth  N.  Y.  V.  were  surprised  about  a  week 
before  at  this  place,  while  on  the  same  errand,  and  thirty  of  their 
number  taken  prisoners. 

The  negroes,  by  order  of  their  master  it  is  supposed,  asked  the 
men  into  their  quarters,  offering  them  hoe-cake  and  milk.  The 
bait  took,  and  while  all  were  engaged  with  the  unaccustomed 
luxury,  the  rebel  cavalry  swooped  down  upon  them.  A  few 
escaped,  but  all  their  horses,  wagons  and  arms  fell  into  the  hands  ol 
the  enemy.  The  others  are  now  doubtless  paying,  in  Richmond, 
the  price  of  their  neglect  of  ordinary  caution. 

Nearly  all  the  slaves  have  taken  French  leave ;  a  few  had  been 
sent  to  Fairfax  by  their  masters  for  safety,  probably  those  he 
considered  least  reliable. 

The  old  "Aunty"  who  gave  us  a  cup  of  milk  at  her  cabin 
door,  bewailed  the  fate  of  her  youngest  daughter.  "Marse 
William,"  she  said,  "clone  send  her  to  wait  on  dem  secesh  officers, 
an  I  spec  I  won't  see  her  any  more." 

We  assured  the  good  old  creature,  who  by  the  way  was  almost 
as  white  as  ourselves,  that  when  we  took  Fairfax  we  would 'send  her 


128  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

daughter  home,  a  promise  that  seemed  to  give  her  much  comfort. 
Our  conversation  with  her  left  no  doubt  as  to  "  Marse  William's" 
complicity  in  the  capture.  She  said  that  when  the  troops  were 
about  to  leave,  the  leader  rode  up  to  her  door  and  gave  her  a  letter, 
saying  "give  that  to  your  master  William  and  tell  him  I  am  mucJi 
obliged."  The  old  man  has  been  arrested  and  sent  to  Washington. 

Picket  duty  is  not  quite  so  pleasant  as  in  the  summer,  but  an 
occasional  cavalry  raid,  or  affair  with  the  sneaking  bushwhackers 
who  infest  the  lines,  makes  it  just  dangerous  enough  to  be  inter 
esting.  Stuart's  Virginia  Cavalry  are  just  now  our  especial  bug 
bear,  and  harrassing  the  pickets  seems  to  be  their  especial  delight. 
The  woods  abound  in  a  gaunt,  lean  kind  of  pigs,  and  if  they  ever 
were  domesticated  they  have  forgotten  the  fact,  for  at  the  approach 
of  man,  they  snort  and  scud  away  with  tucked  up  bellies  and 
bristling  backs,  as  if  conscious  of  his  inherent  love  of  fresh  meat. 
Although  firing,  except  in  case  of  an  alarm,  is  strictly  prohibited, 
piggy  does  sometimes  tempt  the  charge  out  of  the  musket  of  some 
hungry  soldier,  and  those  who  prefer  the  lean  are  sure  to  get 
enough  of  it.  But  in  the  night  when  all  is  quiet,  and  the  watchful 
sentinel  listens  intently  for  any  unusual  sound  that  may  warn  him 
of  a  hostile  approach,  he  is  sometimes  startled  by  the  stealthy  tread 
of  one  of  these  porcine  foragers. 

The  nearest  approach  to  an  alarm  on  our  first  night,  was  in 
this  wise :  Of  the  four  men  at  our  station,  one  was  posted  and  the 
others  were  to  relieve  in  their  turn,  each  standing  two  hours.  It 
was  near  midnight  when  a  hearty  kick  roused  me  from  a  sound 
sleep  beside  the  little  fire  we  had  built,  and  masked  with  boughs, 
in  the  rear  of  our  post.  I  needed  to  ask  no  questions,  for  I  saw 
that  each  man  had  taken  a  tree,  and  I  hastened  to  follow  the 
example.  The  man  on  post  had  heard  strange  noises,  and  seen 
dark  objects  moving  along  the  ground  in  front.  With  suspended 
breath  and  eager  eyes,  we  looked  and  listened,  expecting  each 
moment  to  see  the  flash  of  arms,  and  meet  the  rush  of  our  assailants. 
Thus  passed  some  moments  of  intense  anxiety.  The  wind  rustled 
through  the  pines,  just  breaking  the  gloomy  silence  with  a  sound 
more  gloomy.  Each  one  stood  like  a  statue  beside  his  tree,  and 
the  flickering  light  of  the  fire  only  served  to  distort  and  mingle  the 
objects  around.  Suddenly  it  occurred  to  us,  that  by  being  in  the 
light  we  exposed  ourselves  without  gaining  any  advantage,  and  so, 
with  muskets  at  a  "ready,"  we  moved  forward  from  tree  to  tree, 
intent  upon  proving  the  cause  of  our  alarm.  Suddenly  we  saw 


TWENTY  -FIRST     REGIMENT.  I  29 

them.  One,  t\vo,  three,  four, —  yes,  there  were  four,  and  they  were 
down  upon  hands  and  knees,  and  seemed  to  be  listening.  "Who 
goes  there?"  demanded  a  chorus  of  four  preternaturally  steady 
voices,  while  four  muskets  at  deadly  level  waited  the  reply,  when, 
—  Oh,  shades  of  Pan! — a  medley  of  astonished  snorts  and  grunts 
responded,  and  a  troop  of  wild  hogs  ingloriously  turned  tail  and 
scampered  through  the  pines  ! 

We  returned  to  our  fire  somewhat  crestfallen,  but  the  joke  was 
too  good,  and  we  laughed  long  and  heartily.  Had  he  on  post  been 
a  man  of  weak  nerves,  he  would  have  undoubtedly  fired  at  first,  and 
never  would  have  believed  but  that  clanger  and  death  were  that 
night  his  near  neighbors. 

Blenker's  pickets,  on  our  left,  were  driven  in  by  rebel  cavalry 
next  morning.  No  lives  lost.  At  three  o'clock,  the  35th  passed 
us,  going  towards  Fairfax  on  a  reconnoisance.  Soon  afterwards  the 
men  on  post  were  relieved,  and  marched  in  to  the  reserve. 

We  found  the  boys  very  comfortably  situated  in  a  grove  of 
young  pines.  They  had  built  large  bough  houses,  making  first  a 
framework  of  poles,  and  then  laying  on  a  heavy  thatch  of  cedar 
boughs,  with  the  tips  clown  and  overlapping  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
shed  water.  It  is  surprising  to  observe  how  man  adapts  himself  to 
circumstances.  All  the  luxuries  of  home  seem  to  be  forgotten,  and 
those  who  least  appreciated  them  are  exulting  in  the  comforts  of  an 
open  shed  and  a  roaring  fire,  and  beds  of  fragrant  cedar  boughs. 
Against  the  trees  hang  the  carcases  of  some  defunct  grunters, 
possibly  killed  in  mistake  for  "secesh."  No  one  asks  any  questions, 
and  all  slice  for  themselves,  rammers  and  bayonets  serving  as 
substitutes  for  spits.  Some  of  the  boys  have  brought  some  buck 
wheat  flour  in  their  haversacks,  and  are  frying  pancakes  for 
breakfast.  Others  have  been  foraging,  and  are  feasting  on  fresh 
hoe-cakes  and  milk,  bought  of  the  darkies.  Some  are  cleaning 
their  guns  ;  others  squat  in  groups,  very  intent  on  the  mysteries  of 
whist,  euchre  or  "seven  up  ;"  a  few  are  writing;  more  are  reading; 
many  are  rolled  snug  in  their  blankets,  sleeping  off  the  fatigue  of 
that  "last  trick"  on  post;  while  a  noisy  party  are  making  the  woods 
ring  with  some  boyish  game  of  romps.  Every  true  lover  of  nature 
is  at  heart  a  vagrant,  and  there  is  to  such  an  one  something 
irresistibly  attractive  in  the  wild  freedom  of  this  kind  of  life. 

On  the  27th  we  were  relieved  from  picket  duty  by  the  2Oth 
Militia,  and  returned  to  camp.  It  was  a  rainy,  disagreeable  day, 
and  the  mud  very  deep,  so  that  we  were  somewhat  wet  and  dirty 


130  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

after  our  four  miles  march  back  to  camp.  Soon  after  relieving  us, 
the  2Oth  were  charged  upon  by  Stuart's  Cavalry,  but  had  the  good 
luck  to  lose  no  men. 

To-day,  (28th,)  it  still  rains.  Col.  Rogers  has  gone  home  on 
sick  leave,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Root,  who  arrived  from  Buffalo  on  the 
25th,  is  in  command. 

Tuesday,  Dec.  3d. —  A  bitter  cold  day.  We  have  just  returned 
from  an  expedition  in  search  of  Stuart's  Cavalry. 

Last  night  at  one  o'clock  we  were  roused  with  orders  to 
prepare  to  march  at  three.  No  one  knew  our  destination,  or  what 
we  were  expected  to  do,  and  we  naturally  supposed  that  a  general 
advance  was  being  made.  So  we  packed  everything  we  must  leave 
behind,  and  filled  our  haversacks  and  canteens,  also  taking  good 
care  to  have  plenty  of  cartridges  in  our  boxes. 

At  three  we  were  on  the  march,  the  men  in  excellent  spirits 
and  boiling  with  excitement.  The  moon  gave  us  but  a  little  fitful 
light  through  a  cloudy  sky,  but  as  the  road  was  frozen  firm  we 
marched  rapidly.  Our  course  was  out  the  Leesburg  turnpike,  and 
toward  Fairfax,  and  all  felt  certain  that  this  time  we  should  see 
some  fighting.  A  regiment  of  cavalry  and  a  battery  passed  us  just 
below  Falls  Church. 

At  daylight  we  halted,  filing  off  from  the  road  into  a  thick  pine 
undergrowth,  having  marched  about  seven  miles.  Our  position 
commanded  the  road  by  which  we  came,  and  also  another  from  the 
direction  of  our  lines,  which  joined  it  here,  and  we  now  learned  the 
object  of  the  expedition.  Stuart's  Cavalry  had  been  seen  on  our 
right  the  day  before,  and  was  supposed  to  be  still  in  the  vicinity  of 
our  lines.  Hoping  to  trap  them,  various  forces  had  been  sent  out 
quietly  at  the  same  time,  to  occupy  different  points  by  which  they 
might  attempt  to  return,  and  cut  off  their  retreat,  while  other  forces 
were  to  beat  the  country  in  search  of  them.  Our  orders  were  to 
lie  quietly  in  the  bushes  and  be  ready  for  them.  So  throwing  out 
scouts  to  guard  against  surprise,  we  waited.  Fairfax  was  but  half 
a  mile  away,  and  we  heard  the  reveille  in  the  rebel  camps  quite 
plainly, —  so  plainly  that  we  began  to  think  we  stood  a  fair  chance 
for  a  fight,  whether  the  cavalry  came  or  not,  if  we  were  to  stay 
there  long.  It  was  so  cold  that  the  water  froze  in  our  canteens, 
and  as  we  could  of  course  build  no  fires,  and  were  obliged  to  lie 
perfectly  quiet  under  cover  of  the  little  trees,  the  discomforts  of  our 
position  may  be  imagined. 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  131 

Our  Major  would  not  even  allow  us  to  smoke  our  pipes,  and 
warned  us  of  the  danger  of  any  risk  that  might  betray  us  to  the 
neighboring  foe.  A  litter  of  plump,  white,  tempting  looking  pigs, 
just  the  right  size  for  roasters,  put  our  forbearance  to  an  incon 
ceivable  test  by  wandering  through  the  grove,  almost  within  reach. 
We  looked  upon  the  innocents  with  gloating  eyes,  but  the  Major 
was  there,  and  it  wouldn't  do  to  risk  even  the  faintest  bit  of  a 
squeal.  He  was  even  fain  to  drive  them  away  lest  some  one  should 
come  to  look  for  them. 

Thus  passed  the  day,  and  at  three  o'clock  we  were  ordered  to 
fall  in  and  get  back  silently.  Our  plan,  through  some  treachery, 
probably,  had  become  known  in  time  to  enable  the  enemy  to  avoid 
us,  and  so  our  lying  all  day  in  ambush, —  or,  as  the  boys  say,  in 
anguish, —  resulted  in  nothing  but  disappointment.  We  arrived  in 
camp  at  dark  this  evening,  rather  tired  and  hungry. 

At  nine  o'clock  last  Friday  night,  (29th,)  we  received  orders 
to  march  at  four  next  morning,  but  after  our  making  every  prepara 
tion,  the  orders  were  countermanded.  Yesterday  we  had  a 
thorough  inspection,  and  everything  wras  found  to  be  in  excellent 
order  throughout. 

Saturday,  Dec.  yth. —  The  last  three  clays  have  been  delight 
fully  fine:  the  weather  much  like  our  Indian  Summer  at  home. 
The  hills  are  brown,  and  the  forests  blazing  with  the  rich  red  and 
yellow  of  the  unfallen  leaves, —  except  in  the  distance,  where  the 
hazy  atmosphere  blends  all  with  the  dull  gold  of  the  sunlight. 
Beautiful  days  for  wanderings  beside  running  streams,  or  in  the 
forests,  or  for  basking  on  the  hill  sides  and  dreaming  the  hours 
away.  Even  in  her  present  aspect  of  decay  and  ruin,  Virginia  is 
still  beautiful,  noble  in  decline.  Nature  has  given  here  with  an 
unsparing  hand,  but  man  has  introduced  a  curse, —  the  serpent  has 
been  at  work,  and  this  Eden,  like  that  of  old,  becomes  a  desert. 

From  any  of  these  hills  may  be  numbered  many  blackened 
chimneys  that  rise  above  hearths  now  cold, —  warmed  last  by  the 
brand  of  the  destroyer.  How  sad  to  look  upon  one  of  these  ruins ; 
the  charred  roof-trees,  the  gardens  trampled,  the  flowers  destroyed, 
the  vine  and  trellis  broken  down  together,  and  think  how  sadly 
sacred  every  nook  of  the  forsaken  home  must  be  in  the  bitter 
memory  of  some  exile. 

The  forests,  so  long  the  pride  of  these  hills  and  vales,  are  for 
miles  laid  prostrate  in  the  range  of  our  guns,  and  thickly  clothe  the 
ground  with  their  decaying  leaves.  An  age  will  not  replace  them, 


132  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

but'  Virginia  will  recover  her  forests  sooner  than  wipe  away  the 
enduring-  blot  on  her  fair  name,  and  the  terrible  results  of  retribution. 

Wide  indeed  is  the  desolation  of  war,  and  peace  with  her 
restoring  wand  follows  but  slowly  and  painfully  in  his  desolated  path. 

To-day  we  have  been  reviewed  by  Gov.  Morgan.  He  was 
expected  yesterday  but  did  not  come,  and  we  had  a  review  "on  our 
own  hook,"  before  the  Major.  To-day  he  came,  and  this  morning 
our  division  assembled  at  Ball's.  We  were  on  the  ground  at  eight. 
The  fog  was  unfortunately  so  thick  as  to  sadly  mar  the  effect  of  the 
display,  and  considerable  skill  must  have  been  displayed  in  avoiding 
a  confusion  in  the  movements.  However,  it  was  satisfactory,  and 
McDowell  said  we  had  never  done  better,  which  was  considerable 
for  him  to  say,  as  he  rarely  condescends  to  commend. 

At  parade  this  evening,  we  greeted  the  return  of  our  Colonel 
from  Buffalo,  with  three  rousing  cheers.  It  is  his  first  absence,  and 
he  must  have  used  immense  self  sacrifice  to  tear  himself  from  home 
again  after  so  short  a  visit. 

Sunday,  Dec.  I5th. —  For  the  last  four  days  we  have  been  very 
busy  in  removing  our  camp  to  the  summit  of  the  hill,  and  building 
winter  quarters.  Last  Thursday  our  officers  staked  out  the  new 
ground,  upon  the  site  until  then  occupied  by  the  5th  Rhode  Island 
Battery.  It  is  a  splendid  location,  somewhat  exposed  to  the  wind, 
of  course,  but  none  the  less  healthy  for  that.  Our  new  camp  fronts 
the  road ;  just  in  the  rear  is  a  line  of  shade  trees,  among  which  the 
officers'  quarters  are  placed;  and  still  farther  back,  is  a  very  large 
barn,  of  which  our  Quartermaster  has  taken  possession.  An  old 
dwelling  just  on  the  brow  of  the  eastern  slope,  and  to  the  left  of  the 
camp,  makes  an  excellent  hospital,  and  from  this  point  we  have  a 
fine  view  of  all  the  country  between  us  and  Washington,  the  dome 
of  the  Capitol  looming  in  the  distance,  and  beyond,  the  blue  hills 
of  Maryland. 

Across  the  road,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  camp  is  Fort 
Upton,  and  in  its  rear  is  the  mansion,  now  occupied  by  the  General 
of  our  brigade.  To  the  left  of  this  is  the  camp  of  the  2oth*  N.  Y. 
S.  M.,  and  the  23d  are  still  further  back  upon  a  low  ridge  on  the 
southern  slope.  The  35th  still  occupy  their  first  camp  at  Taylor's 
Tavern. 

A  uniform  construction  of  quarters  for  the  companies  was 
decided  upon  by  the  Colonel.  The  streets  are  eighteen  feet  in 


*  This  regiment  had  lately  been  assigned  to  our  brigade. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  133 

width,  with  a  trench  on  either  side,  the  tents  of  each  company  in 
two  lines  facing  each  other,  and  in  the  rear  of  each  is  an  interval  of 
four  feet,  separating  it  from  the  rear  of  its  neighbor  in  the  next 
company.  Along  this  interval  is  another  trench,  communicating 
between  the  tents  with  the  one  in  the  street.  These,  if  kept  open, 
will  aid  greatly  in  keeping  the  camp  dry,  as  the  ground  has  quite  a 
slope  to  the  front. 

The  tents  themselves  are  raised  on  log  walls  four  feet  in  height, 
the  interiors  floored  with  boards  brought  from  long  distances  by 
the  boys,  that  commodity  being  in  great  demand,  and  proportion 
ately  scarce.  The  ruined  buildings  in  the  neighborhood  have  been 
appropriated,  piecemeal,  long  since,  even  to  the  last  nail,  or  bit  of 
wood  or  iron,  that  could  be  made  of  any  possible  use  in  camp.  The 
bricks  from  the  chimneys  are  used  to  build  fireplaces  and  chimneys 
in  the  quarters,  and  where  the  architect  finds  his  material  giving 
out,  before  the  vent  has  reached  a  sufficient  height,  he  tops  it  with 
a  barrel.  These  furnaces  are  becoming  rather  unpopular.  It  is 
considered  capital  fun  to  drop  a  few  cartridges  down  ydur 
neighbor's  chimney,  which  may  be  considered  rather  practical,  but 
is  undoubtedly  a  new  way  of  cracking  a  joke.  The  joked  party 
moreover,  rarely  fails  to  see  the  point,  and  usually  sallies  out  with 
considerable  profanity,  and  the  biggest  convenient  stick,  in  search 
of  the  funny  party,  but  usually  is  obliged  to  content  himself  with 
repeating  the  joke  on  some  one,  who  in  turn  victimizes  some  one 
else,  and  so  it  goes.  By  the  way,  this  is  the  usual  course  of  camp 
justice,  as  practiced  by  the  men,  without  the  trouble  and  uncertainty 
of  an  appeal  to  authority.  If  your  blanket,  cup,  canteen,  or  any 
other  article  is  appropriated  by  some  person  or  persons  unknown, 
and  not  easy  to  be  discovered,  you  must  say  nothing,  but  just 
capture  the  first  like  article  you  find  lying  around  loose,  the  owner 
of  which  will,  as  a  matter  of  course,  "  go  and  do  likewise."  This 
proceeding  is  not  considered  theft ;  no  particular  blame  is  attached 
to  it,  and  the  process  is  called  winning,  Blenkering,  or  out-flanking, 
military  terms  being  considered  most  legitimate. 

A  considerable  improvement  in  warming  the  tents  is  the  small 
sheet  iron  stove  now  extensively  manufactured  in  Washington,  and 
beginningto  be  generally  used  in  camp.  They  are  also  very  con 
venient  forcooking  purposes.  The  interior  accommodations  of  the 
quarters  are  gotten  up  according  to  the  taste  and  convenience 
of  the  occupants,  and  present  a  great  and  ingenious  variety  of 
useful  contrivances. 


134  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Altogether  we  may  be  quite  as  comfortable  as  we  choose,  and 
the  prospect  is  good  for  an  easy  and  agreeable  time  until  spring 
opens  another  campaign. 

The  weather  continues  fine.  Last  Monday  morning  being  very 
pleasant,  we  were  excused  from  drills  to  give  us  an  opportunity  to 
wash  our  clothes.  A  fine  stream,  with  a  clean  rocky  bed,  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill,  is  an  excellent  place  for  this ;  and  here,  on  a  fine 
morning,  the  men  resort  with  their  "  washing,"  and  to  bathe,  taking 
time  for  the  latter  duty  while  their  clothes  are  drying. 

In  the  afternoon  we  were  ordered  out  to  exercise  in  firing,  with 
blank  cartridges,  but  were  hardly  out  of  camp  when  we  were  met 
with  orders  to  hurry  to  the  support  of  Blenker's  brigade,  whose 
pickets  had  suddenly  been  driven  in  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and 
were  having  a  lively  time.  Only  waiting  to  exchange  our  blanks 
for  ball  cartridges,  we  started  on  the  double  quick,  taking  the  right 
of  our  brigade. 

As  usual,  we  had  a  good  run  lor  nothing,  only  seeing  a  parcel 
of  bewildered  Dutchmen,  half  frightened  out  of  their  wits,  and 
insisting,  each  louder  than  the  other,  that  they  had  barely  escaped 
annihilation.  The  enemy,  however,  had  retired,  and  no  lives  had 
been  lost ;  and  so  we  took  the  road  for  camp,  where  we  arrived  at 
sundown,  rather  tired  and  hungry,  and  without  having  gained  any 
additional  laurels. 

Next  day  we  had  a  division  drill,  with  a  sham  battle,  during 
which  we  got  up  a  high  state  of  excitement.  Feats  of  prodigious 
valor  were  innumerable,  the  charges  were  splendid,  and  bravely 
met,  and  we  were  smutted  with  powder  to  our  heart's  content.  It 
was  really  a  fine  sight ;  almost  as  good  to  look  at  as  the  reality.  The 
lines  dimly  seen  in  proportion  to  their  distance  in  the  smoky 
atmosphere ;  the  leveled  muskets  belching  their  sulphurous  jets, 
and  the  rammers  twinkling  overhead  as  they  were  loaded  again ; 
the  batteries  seen  for  a  moment,  then  hid  in  a  cloud  of  their  own 
making,  the  cavalry  charging  with  wild  yells,  madly  swinging  their 
sabres,  cutting  and  hewing,  and  then  filing  to  right  and  left,  to  form 
again  in  the  rear,  with  here  and  there  some  genius  kicking  about  on 
the  ground,  and  dying  in  the  most  approved  stage  manner,  together 
with  many  an  involuntary  tumble,  leaving  a  riderless  horse  to  gallop 
away,  while  his  discomfited  rider  picked  himself  up  and  got  out  of 
the  way,  made  it  a  stirring  sight. 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  135 

We  have  orders  to-night  to  prepare  to  march  at  daybreak.  It 
is  supposed  the  object  of  the  expedition  is  to  secure  forage  for  the 
brigade. 

Monday,  Dec.  i6th. —  This  morning  at  four  we  left  camp,  taking 
the  Vienna  road,  which  we  followed  until  within  a  short  distance  of 
that  place,  with  Fairfax  in  sight  on  our  left.  Our  brigade  was  out 
in  force,  and  well  supported.  Several  batteries  and  regiments  of 
cavalry  accompanied  the  expedition,  which  had  for  its  object,  first, 
a  complete  survey  for  a  map  of  the  country  ;  next,  the  capture  of  a 
large  amount  of  forage,  consisting  of  corn,  oats  and  hay.  Both 
were  accomplished  without  any  opposition,  our  force  being  too 
strong  to  tempt  an  attack.  From  the  movements  of  other  forces 
through  the  day,  it  was  apparent  that  the  whole  of  the  debatable 
country  between  the  lines  was  being  mapped,  probably  from 
Leesburg  to  the  neighborhood  of  Germantown.  Our  scouting 
parties  found  in  the  old  camps  many  documents  of  rare  interest, 
principally  letters  and  orders  written  before  the  fight  at  Bull  Run, 
and  which  have  been  carefully  sent  home.  In  the  camp  of  the  8th 
South  Carolina  Regiment,  I  found  the  original  muster  roll  of 
company  "C."  It  is  a  curiosity.  The  blank  is  filled  up  in  a  round 
clerkly  hand,  which  is  again  recognized,  where  the  officers  signed 
their  names,  as  that  of  one  of  the  lieutenants.  About  one-third  of 
the  men  could  write  their  names ;  the  rest  had  scrawled  their 
marks.  Of  those  who  could  write,  about  one  in  six  has  made  his 
name  legible,  and  the  lines  zigzag  down  the  columns  like  a  Virginia 
fence.  Evidently  the  boast  of  our  chivalrous  neighbors  about  their 
"  best  blood/'  in  the  rank  and  file,  does  not  cover  all  cases.  Here 
we  see  an  evidence  of  the  contrary. 

We  arrived  in  camp  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  with  eighty  wagon 
loads  of  forage.  The  farmers  from  whom  it  was  taken  objected 
strongly,  although  assured  that  the  receipts  given  them  would  be 
good  for  the  value  of  the  property  taken,  and,  if  they  could  prove 
their  loyalty,  promptly  cashed  in  Washington.  The  fact  of  their 
remaining  unmolested  so  near,  in  fact,  until  lately,  within  the  rebel 
lines,  is  rather  against  them.  The  people  living  in  a  part  of  the 
country  thus  exposed  to  both  parties,  have  a  most  precarious  tenure 
of  their  possessions.  Either  party  may  plunder  them,  as  it  is 
impossible  to  be  loyal  to  both,  and  to  temporize  with  one  is  to  call 
down  the  vengeance  of  the  other.  I  think  it  would  be  but  iair  in 
the  government  to  protect  these  people  first  and  depend  upon  their 
loyalty  afterward.  It  is  but  natural  for  them  to  endeavor  to  save 


136  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

their  families  from  penury  by  appearing  to  sympathize  with  the 
rebel  while  his  power  surrounds  them  ;  and  it  is  hard  that  they 
should  for  no  greater  disloyalty  than  this  be  stripped  of  their 
support  for  the  winter  months. 

The  railroad  beyond  our  picket  lines  has  been  destroyed,  the 
rails  torn  up  and  bent,  being  heated  in  the  piles  of  burning  ties,  and 
twisted  among  the  rocks  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  it  impossible 
to  straighten  them  by  any  means  within  our  command.  The  wagon 
roads  are  ditched  across  and  blockaded  in  many  places.  It  is  said 
that  the  rebels  do  not  expect  to  hold  this  part  of  the  State,  but 
intend  only  to  make  it  worthless  to  any  one  else.  Poor  old 
Virginia  suffers  for  consenting  to  rake  the  chestnuts  of  the  central 
and  border  States  out  of  the  fire,  and  now  they  mock  the  agonies 
of  their  dupe. 

Dec.  29th. —  Another  death  in  our  regiment.  Bowman,  of  "  H  " 
Company,  left  camp  Christmas  morning  to  visit  some  friends  in 
another  regiment,  and  did  not  return.  He  was  found  the  day  after 
Christmas,  on  the  railroad  a  mile  from  camp,  frozen  to  death. 

His  funeral,  at  two  this  afternoon,  was  attended  by  a  large  part 
of  the  regiment.  He  was  buried  in  the  old  church-yard  at  Falls 
Church. 

Christmas  was  duly  observed  in  camp.  Men  were  excused 
from  all  drills  for  the  day,  and  passes  granted  to  all  who  asked.  A 
privilege  used  by  so  many  that  the  camp  was  nearly  deserted. 

We  went  on  picket  duty  next  day,  and  after  forty-eight  hours 
of  the  usual  fatigue  and  cold,  were  relieved  by  the  29th.  Hardly 
had  we  reached  camp  when  we  were  ordered  out  to  take  our  place 
in  the  division,  a  drill  and  sham  battle  at  Bailey's  furnishing  the 
occasion.  After  reaching  the  ground  "  B  "  and  "  D  "  were  detached 
as  skirmishers,  to  take  the  right  of  the  division,  and  then  followed 
two  hours  of  violent  exercise,  made  more  severe  by  the  weight  of 
the  knapsacks,  which  we  were  not  allowed  to  lay  aside. 

We  now  approach  the  end  of  the  year.  When  we  left  home 
we  little  thought  the  year  1862  would  find  us  still  in  Virginia,  but 
hoped  long  ere  this  to  see  the  old  flag  restored  to  its  place  in  every 
State  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Gulf. 

How  near  that  consummation  is  approaching,  who  can  say  ? 
but  at  any  rate  we  have  long  since  abandoned  the  idea  of  an  easy 
conquest  of  the  disaffected  portion  of  the  Union. 

To  attempt  a  detailed  summary  of  what  has  been  gained  in  the 
struggle  against  the  "  monster  "  whose  back-bone  the  war  journals 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  137 

have  so  repeatedly  declared  broken,  would  in  us  be  a  work  of 
supererogation.  Rather  let  the  impartial  verdict  of  the  future  sum 
our  triumphs  and  our  failures,  and  proceed  we  with  the  humble 
memorial  which  confines  us  to  the  labors  of  a  mere  fraction  in  the 
hosts  of  the  Union.  Perhaps,  after  all,  our  chiefest  triumph  thus 
far  is  not  so  much  in  what  our  enemies  have  suffered  at  our  hands, 
as  in  the  proofs  a  world  has  witnessed,  of  the  devotion  of  a  great 
people  to  the  principles  inherited  from  the  fathers  who  maintained 
them  in  the  face  of  almost  overwhelming  obstacles. 

Of  our  own  part  in  the  drama  of  the  day,  those  who  have 
followed  our  fortunes  through  the  preceding  pages  can  judge  for 
themselves.  That  it  is  not  an  easy  one  is  evinced  by  the  anxiety 
of  all,  from  highest  to  lowest,  for  the  commencement  of  an  active 
campaign,  dreading  the  fatigues  of  the  march  and  the  perils  of  the 
field  much  less  than  the  tasteless  drudgery  of  an  army  of  occupation. 

We  have  been  nearly  eight  months  in  the  service.  The 
regiment  has  gained  much  in  that  time.  In  discipline  and  condition 
for  severe  and  efficient  duty  we  stand  second  to  few.  The  hard 
work  we  have  had  to  do  has  tested  and  developed  endurance  and 
sifted  out  the  physically  inefficient,  and  discipline  has  effected  the 
same  good  result  in  the  moral  condition  of  the  command. 

We  left  Elmira  with  seven  hundred  and  fifty-four  enlisted  men. 
Our  loss  from  deaths  and  in  number  discharged,  is  eighty-four,  and 
we  have  had  sixty-four  recruits,  making  the  present  strength  of  the 
regiment  seven  hundred  and  thirty-eight  men,  rank  and  file.  The 
recruits  were  sworn  in  for  the  unexpired  term.  Their  names  are 
as  follows : — 

Co.  "A" — John  Schmidt,  Jas.  Bell,  James  Brown,  Michael 
Cauley,  John  W.  Doney,  John  Hays,  Joseph  H.  Jones,  Michael 
Krilier,  Peter  Kline,  Jacob  A.  Langmeyer,  Peter  Bieber,  Antony 
Dasher,  Christian  Henry,  Stoughton  C.  Moore,  William  Munroe, 
William  R.  Bassett,  William  C.  Carter,  Josephus  Cheaney,  George 
Smith,  John  J.  Smith. 

Co.  "B"— August  Bommell,  Chas.  A.  Buchanan,  Hugh 
Donaldson,  Marvin  Luke,  Geo.  Meaner,  Daniel  Morningstar,  Louis 
Reihl,  Orrin  Stickney,  Orson  Stone,  Edward  Van  Ornam,  Henry 
Hill: 

Co.  "C"— Eugene  Dickinson,  Wm.  Fox,  Elbridge  O.  Gary, 
Ezra  C.  Hull,  Wm.  McDonald,  Chas.  Peterson,  James  G.  Remington, 
Reuben  A.  Scofield,  Conrad  D.  Stabler,  Francis  A.  Valentine, 
George  Williams,  Curtis  W.  Rose,  Robert  Sutcliffe,  Chas.  R.  Peck, 


138  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Wm.  G.  Rice,  Lova  M.  Fuller,  Charles  King-man,  Stephen  M. 
Barker. 

Co.  "  D  "- —  Heman  Guild,  Benjamin  F.  Hemstreet,  James  L. 
Hill,  Walter  B.  Hubbard,  Frank  Robinson,  William  B.  Taylor, 
Burt  Woodworth,  Michael  J.  Birsch,  Wm.  R.  Deacon,  Robert  W. 
Deacon,  George  N.  Merrill,  Henry  C.  Stevens,  John  Brazill, 
Michael  J.  Coan. 

Co.  "  E  "-— Daniel  Barst,  John  Moore,  Benjamin  Adamy, 
Homer  M.  Choate,  Wm.  H.  Hause,  Wm.  G.  Monroe,  Jacob 
Randall,  John  Herman,  Geo.  W.  Proctor,  Wilder  Vantine,  George 
A.  Hamlin,  Franklin  Steiver,  Godfrey  Hermann,  Edward  Cook, 
Byron  Chaffee. 

Co.  "  F  "  —  Franklin  Averill,  Walter  E.  LaMontagne,  James 
R.  Lewis,  John  G.  Mayer,  Milton  Moon,  Joseph  Olheiser,  Julius  C. 
Ritter,  Alfred  Sweetapple,  Matthew  M.  Upthigrove,  Peter  Besor, 
James  McCarty,  James  Wilson,  Erhard  Wurthan,  Wm.  W.  Bement, 
George  Mauley. 

Co.  "  G"-  — Philip  Hassinger,  Henry  H.  Kinsky,  Chas.  W. 
Myers. 

Co.  "  H  "  —  Sanford  Freeman,  John  Trigg. 

Co.  '"I"  —  R.  J.  Patterson,  Jos.  Lasson,  Henry  J.  Fox,  Adam 
Keel,  Henry  Muncie,  Edwin  Irwin,  John  Diegle. 

Co.  "K';— John  J.  Brush,  Philip  Herbold,  Alanson  Bulson, 
Caspar  Blieler,  Edward  V.  Babcock,  Marcus  Fields,  William  C. 
Hubbell,  Wilbur  Mitchell,  John  McKibbin,  Louis  J.  Ottenot,  Jas. 
E.  Reed,  Joseph  Reed,  Albert  Zimmerman,  Chauncey  B.  Mathewson, 
William  H.  More,  Chas.  E.  Morselow,  Thos.  H.  Mahama,  James 
Kelley,  Conrad  Kline,  Joseph  Prior. 

Private  Cleveland  Houghton  of  "  D,"  has  been  promoted  to 
the  Adjutancy  of  the  25th  (Col.  Kerrigan's)  Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  V. 

To-night  we  are  "  watching  "  the  old  year  out  and  the  new  in. 
The  usual  discipline  of  the  camp  is  relaxed.  At  "  taps,"  the 
curfew  of  the  camp,  the  stentor  voice  of  our  Adjutant  does  not,  as 
usual,  thunder  a  warning  to  surreptitious  burners  of  government 
tallow,  and  a  majority  of  the  boys  are  quietly  enjoying  the 
unaccustomed  indulgence,  and  arranging  plans  for  to-morrow's 
jollification,  of  which  more  anon. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  139 


CHAPTER     VI. 


New  Year's  Day  in  Camp.  —  A  Reverie.  —  Order  of  the  Day.  —  The  Weather  during  January  and 
February.  —  Mud.  —  Camp  Duty.  —  Drills.  —  Target  Practice.  —  Pay-day  again.  —  The  Allotment 
Act.  —  Kindness  of  the  Citizens  of  Buffalo.  —  The  Lady  Visitors  in  Camp.  —  Washington's  Birth- 
Day.  —  A  Hurricane.  —  Preparations  for  an  Advance. 


^  T  "T  TISH  you  a  happy  New  Year,  boys!"  says  the  Captain, 
V  V  P°PPmg  his  head  into  our  tent  just  as  reveille  is 
coaxing  our  morning  slumbers  away,  and  "  Sounds  from  Home  " 
are  sweetly  floating  through  the  camp  from  the  eloquent  instruments 
of  Cramer  and  his  band,  irresistibly  carrying  the  waking  thoughts 
back  to  old  happy  times  and  far  away  Buffalo. 

We  hear  the  Captain's  greeting  repeated  and  returned  from 
tent  to  tent  down  the  street,  and  the  words  come  to  us  with  a  new 
meaning;  around  them  form  new  thoughts,  new  ideas,  blended  with 
longings  often  and  sadly  felt  before,  but  now  making  a  halo  round 
the  mystic  invocation,  and  bright  with  the  radiance  of  hope.  What 
are  those  words  to  us  ?  Shall  the  happiness  we  ask  be  answered  in 
the  renewal  of  old  and  cherished  ties  ?  Shall  a  nation  rejoice  that  war 
and  desolation  cease,  and  the  dawn  of  a  new  day  opens  upon  us  in 
this  eighteenth  century  and  sixty-second  year  of  the  Gospel  of 
Peace  ?  Or  does  it  mean  the  happiness  born  of  a  faithful  discharge 
of  duties  that  bring  no  greater  reward  than  the  consciousness  of 
faithful  effort  for  the  right,  strength  and  patience  under  a  soldier's 
trials,  and  a  firmer  trust  in  the  Power  that  "  doeth  all  things  well?  " 
Happy  New  Year  !  The  words  seem  set  to  music,  and  float 
above  us  like  chimes  of  joyful  bells.  Before  the  soldier's  eye  pass 
in  review  the  home  scenes  in  which  to-day  his  spirit  takes  a  part. 
Loved  forms  and  faces  hover  round,  dearly-remembered  voices 
mingle  in  happy  greeting,  and  warm  kisses  tremble  upon  the  lip. 
They  are  all  there,  and  again  he  listens  for  the  joyful  clamor  of  the 
old  church  bells,  and  his  heart  laughs  in  his  happy  fullness.  Again 
with  time-honored  customs,  the  salutation  of  the  season  marks  the 
renewal  of  social  ties,  the  board  is  spread  with  hospitable  welcome 
to  friend  and  stranger  alike,  and  the  sparkling  glass  pledges  a 
thousand  times  the  happiness  of  days  to  come. 


140  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

The  scene  changes,  brighter  but  not  more  happy.  Again  are 
gathered  the  young  and  beautiful  where,  like  a  dream  of  bewildering 
loveliness,  they  combine  the  drifting,  eddying  changes  of  the  dance. 
The  soul  drinks  the  music,  the  feet  seem  winged  expositors  of  its 
meaning  and  move  lightly  to  its  free  and  joyous  measure,  while  a 
gentle  pressure  on  the  arm,  a  fragrant  breath  upon  the  cheek,  a 
glimpse  into  soul-deep  eyes,  or  the  thrilling  touch  of  a  fairy  hand, 
sends  an  alarm  to  the  heart,  and  signal  lights  to  the  eyes,  and 
a  sighing  challenge  to  the  lips ;  and  just  then,  like  the  Turk  who 
woke  from  his  last  bright  dream  to  die  "  'mid  shout,  and  groan,  and 
sabre  stroke,"  you  hear,  not  the  "sentry's  shriek,"  but  that  of  a 
much  suffering  Sergeant, 

"  Fall  in  for  roll  call !  " 

Where  are  we?  —  and  they!  Alas!  home  is  hundreds  of 
miles  away,  and  to  us  might  as  well  be  thousands,  and  we  are  in 
our  tent  again.  The  morning  is  cold  the  stove  won't  "  draw,"  the 
tent  is  full  of  smoke,  and  the  "  boy  with  the  auburn  hair  "  is  on  his 
knees,  alternately  blowing  the  fire  and  rubbing  his  eyes,  with  a 
muttered  —  blessing,  perhaps, —  I'm  not  certain,  and  we  all  hurry 
on  our  traps  and  get  into  the  street  just  as  the  Sergeant  pro  tern.,  is 
forming  the  line. 

To-day  we  reverse  the  order  of  things  in  this  regiment.  Last 
night,  as  each  officer  laid  off  his  shoulder-strapped  coat,  he  knew 
his  successor  had  been  elected  from  the  ranks,  and  that  he  should, 
this  morning  have  to  invest  him  with  that  badge  of  authority,  and 
himself  assume  the  private's  jacket  and  his  place  in  the  ranks. 
This  arrangement  was  agreed  to  by  the  officers  and  ordered  by 
Colonel  Rogers  ;  and  last  evening  we  held  an  election  of  new  lint- 
officers,  they  in  turn  choosing  their  field  and  staff.  Seymour 
Colton,  "D,"  is  Colonel;  Samuel  McMurray,  of  "  F,"  Lieut. - 
Colonel;  John  W.  Comstock,  of  "  I,"  Major:  Willett  Fargo,  ol 
"D,"  Quartermaster;  John  Bidwell,  of  "  B,"  Adjutant;  John 
Metcalf,  of"  D,"  Surgeon  ;  and  Almond  Darling,  of  "  C,"  Chaplain. 

Guard-mounting,  at  nine,  went  off  in  excellent  style,  Captain 
Tuttle,  of  "  D,"  being  officer  of  the  day,  and  Lieut.  Sheppard,  ol 
"  C,"  officer  of  the  guard.  Many  of  the  old  officers  were  on  guard, 
others  were  chopping  wood  and  carrying  water  for  the  cooks,  with 
a  meek  resignation  to  their  lot.  And  let  it  be  recorded  that  no 
reprisals  were  attempted  by  those,  for  the  time,  in  power.  Only 
one  of  the  deposed  resisted,  and  he  was  summarily  arrested  and 
hustled  off  to  the  guard-house,  as  an  example  to  all  malcontents. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  141 

The   morning    passed    pleasantly,    many    novel    and    diverting 
contrivances   helping  to   that  end.     Among  these  were   the   calls. 
Ladies   (!)  in  pork  barrel  hoops  and  blankets — a  la  crinoline  - 
received  calls,  dispensing  small  talk  and  refreshments,  and  provoking 
unlimited  flirtations.     So  passed  the  time  until  the  dinner  hour. 

Friends  at  home !  Think  not  to-day  your  cherished  ones  are 
deprived  of  the  creature  comforts  they  crave.  For  your  own  tables, 
loaded  though  they  be  with  the  best  and  richest  the  market  affordeth, 
cannot  present  so  marked  a  contrast  to  your  ordinary  work-a-day 
fare,  as  doth  the  serving  board  of  our  cooking  quarters  to  its 
customary  garniture.  For  know  ye  that  we  have  acquired  a  gem 
of  a  sutler,  and  through  his  exertions  we  have  forestalled  even  the 
Washingtonians,  in  the  poultry  market,  and  verily  oysters  are  not 
wanting.  The  camp  floweth  also  with  lager  beer,  kegs  of  that 
amber-hued  beverage  having  traveled  hither  from  the  camp  of  the 
Garibaldians,  in  exchange  for  much  greenbacks.  Therefore  are 
we  jolly  and  drive  dull  care  away,  and  forget  not  to  drink  a  fathom 
or  more  to  your  health  and  happiness.  Don't  imagine  we  are 
drunken.  Oh  no,  we  are  only  happy,  as  becomes  the  day. 

Immediately  after  dinner,  all  assembled  in  front  of  Col.  Rogers' 
quarters,  and  a  line  flag  staff  soon  reared  its  towering  crest  of  pine- 
tuft  upon  this  highest  spot ;  and  when  our  old  garrison  flag  had 
been  run  "apeak,"  Col.  Colton,  who  had  directed  the  proceedings, 
made  a  speech,  ending  by  naming  our  new  camp  "  Niagara," 
receiving  the  immediate  approbation  of  all  present,  expressed  by 
three  stout  cheers  and  a  "  Buffalo." 

Parade,  at  the  usual  hour,  was  witnessed  by  a  large  gathering 
from  the  camps  around,  attracted  by  the  fame  of  our  doings. 
Everything  went  off  well,  and  no  spectator  could  have  surmised 
that  the  real  officers  were  not  in  command.  Instead,  they  were  in 
the  ranks,  and  did  almost  as  well  as  their  substitutes,  allowing  for 
the  fact  that  a  fall  in  rank  is  worn  less  gracefully  by  most  men  than 
a  promotion.  It  had  been  proposed,  as  appropriate  to  the  occasion, 
to  end  with  an  address  by  the  new  Chaplain,  George  N.  Merrill,  of 
"  D,"  (vice  Darling,  resigned),  but  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  forming 
square  upon  the  narrow  parade  ground,  this  was  omitted. 

After  parade  were  brought  forth  two  slab-sided,  vicious-looking 
pigs,  furnished  by  the  ex-officers,  coated,  in  spite  of  their  ear- 
splitting  protests,  with  a  good  layer  of  grease,  and  escorted  by  the 
band  and  all  the  drums  of  the  regiment  to  a  large  field  near  camp. 
Two  men  from  each  company  were  allowed  to  compete  lor  the  prize. 


142  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

Spare-rib  No.  i  did  not  see  the  point.  He  evidently  was  bewildered, 
and  didn't  know  what  was  expected  of  him,  and  his  stupid  career 
suddenly  ended  in  the  hands  of  two  of  "  B's  "  men,  who,  by  right  of 
tenure  exerted  on  ears,  legs  and  tail,  claimed  nine  points  of  the  law, 
and  bore  off  their  lien  in  triumph. 

Not  so  with  porker  No.  2.  Evidently  expecting  to  make  a 
clear  case,  and  profiting  by  the  experience  of  his  predecessor,  he 
no  sooner  felt  himself  free  than  he  made  a  break  in  lovely  style,  and 
then  followed  such  a  race  as  scrub  riders  might  dream  of.  The 
pursuit  waxes  hot.  Piggy  don't  relish  the  close  attention  of  his 
friends,  and,  with  rare  decision  of  purpose,  changes  his  tactics  by 
making  a  sudden  and  most  unexpected  halt;  and  while  about  a 
dozen  soldiers  collide  at  a  tangent,  and  sprawl  upon  the  ground 
with  greased  shins  and  ugly  bruises,  bears  away  in  a  new  direction, 
exulting  in  the  success  of  his  stratagem.  More  ground  and  lofty 
tumbling  follows,  when  another  attempt  is  made  to  outflank  him ; 
but  at  last  his  enemies,  by  virtue  of  strength  and  number,  win  the 
day,  and  he  is  borne  away,  still  loudly  arguing  the  injustice  of  the 
proceeding. 

"  B  "  and  "  G  "  Companies  will  dine  to-morrow  on  fresh  pork. 

At  sunset  bona  fide  authority  resumed  its  place,  and  the  camp 
quietly  assumed  its  usual  appearance.  The  day  had  passed  most 
pleasantly,  and  if  the  days  of  the  succeeding  year  are  to  follow  the 
pattern,  if  the  real  officers  and  privates  maintain  the  same  mutual 
good  feeling,  and  profit  by  their  brief  experience  of  each  other's 
trials,  all  will  be  well. 

During  the  months  of  January  and  February  it  rained  almost 
continuously,  and  it  was  with  much  difficulty  and  suffering  that  our 
ordinary  duties  of  picket  and  regimental  guard,  and  the  necessary 
work  of  the  camp,  could  be  performed.  Our  trials  may  be  summed 
up  in  one  word,  and  that  is,  mud!  Cleanliness  and  comfort, 
synonymous  terms  with  men  whose  homes  are  not  forgotten,  were 
no  more  ;  literally  sunk  in  the  floods  of  weakly  dilute  alluvium,  that 
everywhere  clogged  the  feet  of  the  army.  On  duty  our  shoes  were 
full  of  it,  our  garments  a  mass  of  mingled  fibre  and  clay,  our  belts 
and  arms  plashed  and  smeared  with  the  "  sacred  soil,"  and  so  were 
bunks,  seats  and  floors  in  our  tents.  Even  our  food  could  not 
escape  the  universal  contamination  :  pork,  soup  and  beans  were 
more  or  less  gritty,  and  our  coffee  thick  with  the  clayey  solution 
from  the  spring,  which  never  had  time  to  settle.  Guard  duty  was 
hard,  but  few  of  the  boys  will  remember  any  duty  more  severe  than 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  143 

that  of  the  succeeding  day,  when  the  old  guard  were  obliged  to 
procure  the  wood  and  water  for  the  cooks.  The  former  they  cut 
from  among  the  leveled  trees  some  distance  from  the  hill,  and  loaded 
upon  the  wagons  ready  to  drag  it  to  camp,  where  it  had  to  be  cut 
in  proper  lengths  for  the  fires.  The  water  was  brought  from  the 
spring  below  the  orchard  on  the  hill-side,  up  a  slope  of  forty-five 
degrees,  and  a  distance  of  fifty  rods  to  the  camp,  in  the  black, 
greasy  kettles, —  holding  from  five  to  ten  gallons, —  used  to  boil 
pork,  beef,  soup,  or  coffee,  and  the  least  touch  of  which  was 
ineffaceable  pollution  to  light  blue,  or  any  other  trowsers.  To 
descend  this  hill  was  easy  enough,  as  many  knew  to  their  cost ;  for 
once  started,  one  must  needs  go  down,  whether  he  could  keep  his 
feet  under  him  or  not.  But  to  climb  it,  thus  burdened,  required 
strength  and  patience  unlimited. 

Through  the  winter,  and  in  fact  whenever  we  were  established 
in  camp,  the  cooking  was  done  by  men  detailed  for  that  duty,  and 
relieved  generally  about  once  a  month.  These  were  excused  from 
other  duty  except  the  usual  parades  and  muster.  One  of  our  first 
cares,  in  preparing  for  the  winter,  had  been  to  build  substantial  log 
kitchens,  which  are  probably  standing  to  this  day.  These  were 
roofed  generally  with  boards,  like  those  built  for  the  officers,  a  few 
with  canvas,  and  afforded  shelter  for  the  cooks  and  storage  for  the 
rations. 

The  severe  drills  which,  up  to  the  time  when  the  weather  made 
them  impossible,  had  occupied  most  of  our  time  when  not  on  picket 
duty,  had  familiarized  us  with  the  most  difficult  movements  in 
company,  battalion  and  brigade,  so  that,  at  this  time,  our  officers 
confined  our  drill  mainly  to  skirmishing  and  the  bayonet  exercise ; 
and  whenever  the  ground  froze  to  the  necessary  hardness,  the  whole 
regiment,  usually  in  command  of  Lieut. -Col.  Root,  would  go  out 
for  a  course  of  severe  sprouts  in  these  exercises.  Target  firing, 
loo,  was  practiced  almost  daily,  and  in  their  desire  to  outdo  each 
other,  the  men  rapidly  became  good  marksmen,  which  they  were 
not  likely  to  do  with  the  old  smooth-bore  pieces.  Our  new  arms 
(received  January  23d),  of  the  latest  Springfield  pattern,  rifled  and 
accurately  sighted,  were  very  much  liked,  and  were  really  as  good 
a  rifled  arm  as  the  service,  perhaps  the  world,  could  boast. 
Our  usual  range  for  practice  was  from  one  to  five  hundred  yards, 
using  the  regulation  target.  A  circular  from  headquarters,  desiring 
brigade  commanders  to  "improve  every  opportunity  to  practice 
their  men  as  skirmishers  and  to  have  target  practice,  with  a  view  to 


144  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

pick  out  the  best  shots  for  sharpshooters,"  and  that  "the  names  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  best  shots  in  each  regiment "  be,  given 
in  for  that  purpose,  created  no  little  excitement  and  emulation,  all 
being  anxious  to  be  detached  for  that  desirable  service.  That, 
however,  was  the  only  result,  as  the  detail  was  never  made,  and 
when  we  finally  took  the  field,  the  flank  companies  usually  acted  as 
skirmishers. 

On  the  eighth  of  January  we  received  two  months'  pay,  and, 
as  usual,  a  large  portion  of  it  was  instantly  sent  to  the  mothers, 
wives  and  little  ones  at  home.  To  provide  for  safe  and  easy 
transfer  of  such  amounts  as  the  soldiers  wished  to  send  home, 
Government  had  appointed  commissioners  from  each  State  to  visit 
the  camps  of  its  regiments,  and  superintend  the  making  out  of 
allotment  rolls,  each  man  to  specify  the  sum  to  be  reserved  from 
his  monthly  pay,  and  for  which  he  would,  instead,  receive  a  bit  of 
script,  negotiable  at  any  bank,  which  might  be  sent  by  mail  without 
risk,  as  only  the  person  in  whose  favor  the  allotment  had  been  made 
could  get  it  cashed.  The  commissioners  from  New  York  visited 
our  camp  on  the  24th  of  January,  and  explained  the  object  and 
provisions  of  the  law  to  the  assembled  regiment ;  after  which  the 
roll  of  each  company  was  called,  and  each  man  named  the  sum  to 
be  reserved.  The  aggregate,  in  our  regiment,  amounted  to  about 
four  thousand  dollars  per  month. 

Adams'  Express  Co.  having  generously  offered  to  carry  money 
packages  for  soldiers,  free  of  cost,  many  preferred  to  send  their 
own,  not  feeling  certain  that  they  should  always  be  able  to  spare 
any  given  sum.  The  experience  of  succeeding  months  showed  that 
these  were  right,  for  when  rations  were  short,  we  were  often  glad  to 
purchase  ol  the  negroes  along  the  line  of  march,  and  the 
indispensable  tobacco  alone  often  made  a  large  breach  in  our  sinking 
fund. 

The  citizens,  especially  the  ladies,  of  Buffalo,  often  made  us  to 
feel,  during  these  winter  months,  that  we  were  not  forgotten.  It 
would  be  impossible  to  enumerate  all  the  acts  of  kindness  and  good 
will  of  which  we  were  the  grateful  recipients.  The  same  kind  hands 
that  provided  us  with  havelocks  for  the  scorching  summer,  now 
made  us  nice  soft  woolen  socks,  gloves,  mittens  with  one  finger,  and 
gave  good  bedding-  and  other  necessaries  for  the  hospital.  The 
young  ladies  of  the  Central  School,  those  charming  little  patriots 
whose  willing  fingers  made  the  flag  we  swear  by,  were  especially 
deserving  of  credit ;  and  many  a  soldier,  during  those  bitter  nights 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  145 

of  picket  duty,  blessed  them  for  arming  his  hands  and  feet  against 
the  cold. 

Many  of  our  Buffalo  friends  visited  our  camp  during  the 
winter,  and  many  of  the  officers,  secure  against  moving  for 
some  time,  sent  for  their  wives.  The  effect  of  the  presence  of 
these  ladies  was  not  more  salutary  than  wonderful.  Every  man, 
from  highest  to  lowest,  seemed  to  put  on  his  best  behavior;  the 
uniforms  were  never  so  carefully  brushed  before,  the  camp  was 
never  so  neat,  and  everything  that  could  by  any  means  prove 
disagreeable  to  our  guests  was  strictly  tabooed.  It  was  funny,  and 
yet  sad,  to  see  the  wistful  looks  cast  on  the  spot  from  which  they 
would  witness  parade,  and  the  almost  envy  provoked  in  the  hearts 
of  those  who  were  not  the  lucky  wearers  of  shoulder-straps,  and 
who  were  thus  led  to  remember  their  own  wives  and  sweethearts. 

They  finally  went  away,  near  the  last  of  February,  when  we 
knew  we  should  advance  soon,  and  the  camp  relaxed  into  semi- 
barbarism. 

The  22d  of  February  was  marked  by  an  act  of  mercy.  After 
the  reading  of  Washington's  Farewell  Address,  at  parade,  an  order 
by  our  Colonel  was  read,  pardoning  all  prisoners  confined  in  the 
guard-house  by  sentence  of  regimental  court  martial,  in  honor  of 
the  day.  In  the  evening  our  camp  was  illuminated,  as  were  many 
others  in  our  vicinity. 

On  the  24th  came  a  heavy  storm  of  rain,  and  as  it  ceased,  the 
wind  rose  to  the  dignity  of  a  full-grown  hurricane.  Tents  collapsed, 
or  suddenly  inflated,  through  some  unguarded  opening,  sailed 
triumphantly  away,  leaving  their  unlucky  occupants  out  in  the  wet. 
The  immense  barn,  back  of  the  camp,  occupied  by  our  Quarter 
master,  suddenly  heaved  as  though  blown  by  powder,  and  then 
majestically  sank  to  the  ground,  the  crash  hardly  heard  above  the 
screaming  of  the  wind.  Luckily,  all  the  teams  were  away  with  the 
wagons  after  supplies,  and  the  only  living  creature  in  the  building 
at  the  time  was  a  fine  horse,  belonging  to  Lieut.-Col.  Root.  We 
soon  removed  enough  of  the  ruin  to  reach  him,  and  the  noble 
fellow,  but  little  injured,  lay  quietly  on  his  side,  with  an  immense 
beam  across  his  flank,  just  pressing  enough  to  hold  him  down  firmly. 
He  watched  us  appealingly,  and  a  great  sigh  of  relief  burst  from  his 
deep  lungs  as  we  finally  lifted  the  last  beam  and  helped  him  to  his 
feet. 

Next  day  the  ruins  had  to  be  cleared  away,  and  having  no  lack 
of  help,  they  were  before  night,  even  to  the  heaviest  piece,  carried 


146  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

down    the    hill,    and    a    few    days'    work    made    of    them    a  good 
substantial  stable. 

And  now  came  the  pleasing  prospect  of  an  advance.  On  the 
26th  day  of  February  we  were  ordered  to  "  be  in  readiness  to  march 
at  a  moment's  notice."  "  Two  days'  rations  and  forty  rounds  of 
cartridges,"  suggested  something  beyond  picket  duty,  and 
preparations  were  hastily  made  to  strike  tents  and  away."  On  the 
same  day  the  Colonel  returned  from  a  two  days'  visit  to  Philadelphia, 
and  the  officers  immediately  had  everything  packed.  The  wind  had 
nearly  dried  the  roads  so  that  artillery  and  wagon  trains  could 
move  with  us.  On  the  28th  we  went  on  picket  for  the  last  time  on 
the  old  line,  and  were  relieved  on  the  2d  day  of  March,  returning 
to  camp  in  more  rain  and  fresh  mud.  That  day  James  Mackay,  of 
"  D,"  bade  us  good  bye.  He  had  been  promoted  to  a  Lieutenancy 
in  the  Sixty-Second  N.  Y.  V. 

Snow  and  rain  succeeded,  and  next  day  the  roads  were  about 
as  bad  as  ever. 

About  this  time  we  first  received  the  small  shelter  tent,  since 
become  so  familiar.  A  piece  of  Irish  linen,  five  feet  square  with 
buttons  and  holes  on  the  edges,  enabling  any  number  of  pieces  to 
be  fastened  together,  loops  at  the  corners,  and  a  small  jointed  stick, 
three  feet  in  length,  for  each  man. 

Twice  (on  the  6th  and  8th)  we  marched  some  miles  out  the 
Leesburgh  turnpike,  with  knapsacks,  "  in  heavy  order  "  and  tents 
slung ;  pitched  the  latter,  and  crawled  under  them,  at  least  once, 
just  to  see  how  it  seemed ;  tried  all  the  various  ways  of  combining 
them,  and  finally  voted  them  a  fine  thing. 

Sunday,  the  gth,  we  were  inspected  by  Col.  Rogers,  and 
declared  to  be  in  good  order  generally.  The  rest  of  the  day  was 
devoted  to  letter  writing,  although  we  knew  that  the  Northern  mail 
had  been  temporarily  stopped  as  a  precautionary  measure,  so  that 
our  letters  might  lie  in  Washington  some  time,  and  friends  at  home 
grow  anxious.  That  night  we  turned  in  early  for  we  knew  that 
orders  might  come  at  any  moment.  At  one  o'clock  a  sergeant 
passed  quietly  from  tent  to  tent,  arousing  us  with  directions  to 
prepare  for  the  march.  Our  orders  had  come,  and  we  were  to 
move  at  five.  The  cooks  swung  the  kettles  with  our  two  days 
rations  of  pork,  everything  was  got  ready  for  instant  departure,  and 
then  all  laid  down  to  get  a  little  more  sleep. 

At  four  all  were  astir,  bonfires  were  lighted  in  the  streets  with 
the  straw  of  our  bunks  and  the  remnant  of  firewood,  and  in  their 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  147 

glare  men  hurried  to  and  fro,  securing  the  safety  of  whatever  must 
be  left  behind,  filling  haversacks  and  canteens,  and  taking  a  last 
look  at  the  old  camp,  which  had  been  the  scene  of  so  many  long-to- 
be-remembered  experiences. 

At  five  the  bugle  sounded,  and  the  cry  of  "  Fall  in!  "  echoed 
from  street  to  street ;  the  men  hurried  into  their  places,  the  line 
was  formed,  and  just  as  daylight  began  to  streak  the  east,  we 
joyously  took  up  the  march.  The  morning  was  damp,  and  the 
hill  was  enveloped  in  an  ashy  canopy  of  smoke,  through  which 
the  smouldering  fires  showed  dimly  as  we  turned  away,  wondering 
if  we  should  ever  see  it  again.  On  the  march  at  last.  On,  perhaps, 
to  Richmond  ;  at  least,  on ;  and  the  foe  in  front,  and  every  step 
bringing  us  nearer.  All  rallied  with  the  thought,  and  soon  rose 
the  quaint,  peculiar  marching  song  of  the  Twenty-First,  wherein 
those  wild  fellows  were  wont  to  declare  to  the  hills  and  woods  of 
Virginia  how  "  the  fifes  and  drums  should  greet  them,  as  they  went 
rolling  home  ;  "  while  none  spoke  of  the  louder  greeting  which  must 
come  ere  then,  perhaps  many  times,  welcoming  brave  spirits  to  a 
longer  rest. 

We  passed  to  the  left  of  Fort  Buffalo,  and  by  daylight  had 
reached  the  old  picket  line.  Soon  after,  set  in  a  fine  drizzly  rain, 
which  continued,  with  few  intervals,  through  the  day.  At  Anandale 
we  took  the  road  toward  Fairfax,  our  regiment  leading  the  infantry 
column  ;  and  in  the  distance,  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  followed 
trains  of  artillery,  and  columns  of  foot  and  horse. 

We  passed  through  Fairfax  C.  H.  at  noon,  and  halted  for  a 
short  rest,  and  dinner,  just  beyond.  The  men  were  standing  the 
march  very  well,  although  many  found  they  had  over  estimated 
their  pack-horse  ability,  and  a  few  plethoric  knapsacks  disgorged  a 
portion  of  their  contents.  A  hearty  dinner  lightened  the  haversacks, 
too,  and  then  we  moved  on.  The  road  from  Anandale  to  Fairfax 
we  had  found  quite  easy,  long,  regular  slopes  and  smooth  way ; 
but  after  leaving  the  latter  place,  it  became  quite  hilly. 

Near  four  o'clock,  and  when  within  about  two  miles  of 
Centreville,  we  filed  off  into  a  thick  pine  wood  and  pitched  our 
tents.  Building  fires  and  opening  our  haversacks,  we  soon  dried 
our  wet  clothes  and  satisfied  hunger,  and  then  crawled  under  our 
little  tents,  or  gathered  in  knots  to  discusss  the  news  brought  by 
returning  couriers.  The  enemy  had  abandoned  Manassas,  and  our 
cavalry  had  advanced  to  the  neighborhood  of  Winchester  without 
meeting  any  opposing  force.  The  latter  place  was  still  occupied  by 


148        •  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

rebel  troops,  supposed  to  be  militia  left  to  cover  the  retreat.  The 
evacuation  had  been  sudden,  although  preparations  had  evidently 
been  commenced  some  time  before.  It  was  supposed  that  our 
advance  had  not  been  expected  so  soon,  for  a  large  amount  of  stores, 
which  they  had  not  time  to  destroy,  fell  into  our  hands.  People 
living  in  the  vicinity  stated  that  prior  to  the  evacuation,  there  were 
100,000  rebel  troops  at  Manassas  and  Centreville.  Everything 
indicated  a  precipitate  flight.  All  their  log  huts  were  standing,  and 
an  immense  number  of  tents,  together  with  a  few  caissons,  wrere 
found,  but  no  cannon.  Two  bridges,  one  on  the  Warrenton  turnpike, 
the  other  across  Cub  Run,  had  been  blown  up. 

We  abandoned  all  expectation  of  a  battle  on  the  old  ground, 
so  fatal  to  us  in  July  of  the  year  before,  on  which  we  had  hoped  to 
write  another  story  in  rebel  blood,  and  the  excitement  of  the  day 
was  dulled  by  the  disappointment.  We  still  expected  to  move  on 
toward  Richmond. 

Next  morning  reveille  sounded  at  four,  and  we  were  ordered  to 
pack  knapsacks  and  strike  tents,  after  which  we  made  a  hasty  meal, 
expecting  to  march  immediately.  But  the  morning  wore  on,  and 
no  orders  came,  so  the  tents  were  pitched  again.  McClellan  passed 
the  camp  near  noon,  toward  Centreville,  and  all  rushed  to  the  road 
to  cheer  him  as  he  passed.  During  the  day,  many  of  the  men 
straggled  from  the  various  camps,  returning  near  night  to  report  to 
their  less  fortunate  comrades  the  sights  they  had  seen  on  the  old 
Bull  Run  field,  and  loaded  with  excellent  tobacco  and  many  other 
trophies  from  the  abandoned  camps,  among  which  monstrous  bowie 
knives,  some  an  arm's  length,  and  weighing  five  or  six  pounds,  and 
the  most  murderous-looking  weapon  we  ever  saw,  were  the  most 
numerous. 

During  the  following  night  occurred  an  incident  illustrating 
the  unassuming  kindness  of  our  much  loved  Brigadier  General. 
Our  Colonel  being  senior  Colonel  of  the  brigade,  General 
Wadsworth  had  taken  up  his  quarters  near  him,  inside  the  guard 
line  of  our  own  regiment.  A  wagon  fly,  stretched  across  a  pole  on 
crotches,  was  their  tent,  and  in  front  of  this,  beside  a  huge  fire 
which  it  was  part  his  duty  to  replenish,  was  posted  the  customary 
sentinel.  As  all  soldiers  are  aware,  no  sentinel  is  expected  to  salute 
when  on  his  post,  between  retreat  and  reveille.  But  Johnny  Burke, 
of  "  F,"  who  had  more  than  enough  "diviltry"  under  his 
suspiciously  solemn  exterior,  knowing  his  duty  as  well  as  the  best, 
also  knew  the  failings,  "  leaning  to  virtue's  side,"  of  the  good 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  149 

General,  and  wickedly  determined  to  practice  on  them.  So  he 
sturdily  posted  himself  beside  the  fire,  and  whenever  the  latter 
showed  his  venerable  head,  which  was  necessarily  quite  often,  up 
came  John's  musket  to  a  most  undeniable  "  present,"  which  the 
General  would  acknowledge. 

This  happened  so  often  that  at  last  the  General,  to  avoid  it,  would 
manage  to  enter  and  leave  his  tent  by  the  rear.  Finally,  when  about 
to  retire,  he  again  chanced  to  show  himself,  and  in  spite  of  the 
absurdity  of  saluting  an  officer  in  his  night  wrappings,  up  came 
John's  musket  again.  This  was  too  much,  and  he  was  hastily 
dismissed,  with  directions  to  tell  the  officer  of  the  guard  that  no 
more  men  need  be  posted  there.  So  Burke  escaped  duty  for  the 
remainder  of  the  night,  which  was  all  he  wanted,  and  he  often 
afterward  told  gleefully  how  he  "  euchred  "  the  General. 

Next  morning,  much  to  our  disgust,  we  were  ordered  out  for 
battalion  drill  at  eight.  The  same  was  repeated  at  2  P.  M.,  and  at 
four  the  brigade  was  marched  to  Centreville,  where  we  had  another 
drill  within  the  rebel  defenses,  during  which  we  formed  line  oi 
battle  and  charged  the  works  from  the  rear,  carrying  everything 
before  us,  in  demonstration  of  the  way  we  thought  we  would  have 
done,  had  we  been  a  week  sooner.  After  the  drill  we  stacked  arms, 
and  scattered  to  see  the  sights,  being  cautioned  not  to  get  beyond 
hearing  of  the  bugle.  The  quaker  guns  attracted  us  first.  They 
were  large  logs  of  wood,  the  buts  resting  on  the  ground  inside  the 
works,  and  still  retaining  their  bark,  and  the  part  projecting  at  the 
embrasures  nicely  smoothed  and  painted  black. 

The  works  themselves  have  been  often  described.  To  us  they 
seemed  practicable  enough,  and  if  they  had  been  attacked  from  the 
front  our  loss  must  have  been  terrible.  They  had  evidently  been 
mounted  with  heavy  field  pieces,  which  could  be  removed  much 
easier  than  guns  on  barbette  carnages,  and  the  Quakers  could  be 
removed  at  any  time  and  replaced  by  these  it  necessary,  although 
the  few  of  those  had  been  added  to  give  a  show  of  greater  strength, 
which  was  really  unnecessary. 

The  works  surrounded  the  height  in  a  semicircle,  with  here 
and  there  an  advanced  star-shaped  fortification,  detached  from  the 
rest,  and  within  the  first  line  of  guns  were  rifle  pits  and  trenches. 

We  envied  the  rebs  their  comfortable  winter  quarters.  Sub 
stantial  log  houses,  well  roofed,  each  with  two  large  rooms  separated 
by  a  huge  chimney  with  a  fire  place  on  each  side,  and  filled  with 


150  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

tiers  of  cosy  looking  bunks,  stood  thickly  over  and  below  the  hill  and 
along-  the  road  to  Manassas.  These  had  been  built  by  the  slaves. 

We  returned  to  camp  at  dark. 

Another  drill  in  battalion  in  the  morning,  and  company  drill 
in  the  afternoon,  were  ordered  on  the  succeeding  day.  Immediately 
on  our  return  from  the  latter,  we  learned  that  Gen.  Wadsworth  had 
been  made  Military  Governor  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  was 
ordered  to  leave  immediately  for  Washington.  The  whole  brigade 
assembled  informally  and  of  their  own  accord  to  bid  him  adieu. 
As  he  mounted  his  horse  and  moved  into  the  road  the  men 
surrounded  him,  and  pressed  upon  him  to  reach  his  hand,  while  the 
tears  rolled  clown  his  cheeks,  and  not  his  alone,  for  all  had  learned 
to  love  him. 

Good  bye,  boys  !  Good  bye  !  was  his  farewell  speech,  and 
his  husky  and  breaking  voice  made  it  eloquent. 

The  band  had  assembled  with  the  rest,  and  as  he  disappeared 
down  the  road,  the  sweet  familiar  strains  of  "  Auld  Lang  Svne," 
mingled  with  our  last  cheer  of  farewell. 

Col.  Rogers  succeeded  him  in  command  of  the  brigade, 
temporarily,  however,  although  at  the  time  we  all  thought  he 
would  be  commissioned.  Such  would  have  been  the  unanimous 
choice  of  the  brigade  had  it  been  for  them  to  say. 

At  about  this  time,  the  place  of  Brigade  Surgeon  becoming 
vacant,  Dr.  Wilcox  being  senior,  assumed  the  duties  of  the  position. 
His  time  being  now  divided  among  so  many,  for  he  was  most 
conscientious  in  the  discharge  of  his  trust,  we  saw  much  less  of  him 
than  before,  although  his  care  for  us  did  not  abate. 

On  the  morning  of  the  I5th  we  were  stunned  by  receiving 
orders  to  return  to  Alexandria.  At  half-past  ten  we  began  the  first 
of  that  series  of  counter-marches  which  afterward  became  so 
common  with  us  as  to  excite  no  surprise  whatever.  On  this  occasion 
we  were  equally  surprised  and  disappointed,  although  the  rumor  of 
transports  ready  at  Alexandria  to  convey  us  to  some  point  on  the 
coast  was  at  once  an  explanation  and  a  solace. 

It  was  beginning  to  rain  when  we  struck  our  tents,  and  ere  the 
first  mile  was  ended  it  came  down  in  torrents.  And  so  it  continued 
through  the  day,  beating  in  our  faces,  our  clothes  and  blankets 
heavy  with  water,  and  our  feet  parboiling  in  our  wet  shoes,  for 
between  the  hills  the  water  ran  deep  across  the  road.  At  noon  we 
halted  for  ten  minutes,  and  rested  against  the  fences,  eating  some  of 
our  soaked  rations,  and  then  on  again.  At  three  we  reached  a 


TWENTY- FIRST  REGIMENT.  151 

swollen  stream,  which  crossed  the  road  diagonally  in  a  torrent, 
covering  the  track  for  at  least  twenty  rods.  The  bridge  had  been 
swept  away,  and  in  the  pouring  rain  numerous  regiments  were  trying 
at  different  places  to  effect  a  crossing.  To  fresh  men  this  would  have 
not  been  so  difficult,  but  after  our  rapid  march  through  the  mud  few 
felt  strong  enough  to  brace  the  force  of  the  stream,  which  at  the 
shallowest  place  on  the  road  was  breast  deep.  Many  shouldered 
their  accoutrements  and  dashed  in,  while  others  crossed  slowly  upon 
felled  trees,  and  at  last  all  were  over.  We  reached  the  town  soon 
after  six  o'clock,  completely  used  up.  We  had  passed  many 
brigades  within  the  last  few  miles,  who  had  not  marched  as  far  as 
we,  and  were  putting  up  their  shelter  tents  in  the  best  places  they 
could  find,  for  the  night. 

The  streets  of  the  town  were  soon  full  of  weary  men,  and  little 
shelter  could  be  found,  many  regiments  lying  along  the  way  side 
and  resting  in  the  rain.  Our  Colonel  took  possession  of  a  theatre 
called  the  Metropolitan  Varieties,  where  preparations  were  beginning 
for  the  night's  entertainment.  He  declared  in  answer  to  the 
indignant  protests  of  the  occupants,  that  he  should  be  sorry  to 
disturb  them,  but  that  his  men  must  have  a  shelter,  and  told  the 
boys  to  take  possession,  which  of  course  they  did. 

Such  a  sight  few  temples  of  the  histrionic  muse  have  seen. 
Instead  of  the  usual  arrangement,  the  seats  were  like  those  of  an 
ampitheatre,  tier  above  tier,  and  these  with  the  stage,  furnished  a 
motley  spectacle.  Knapsacks  were  explored  for  dry  underclothing, 
and  after  wringing  the  water  from  our  uniforms,  they  were  slung 
upon  the  backs  of  the  seats  to  dry  ;  and  then,  half  famished  as  we 
were,  the  soaked  contents  of  our  haversacks  furnished  a  hearty  meal. 
It  was  late  ere  the  house  was  quiet.  The  novelty  of  the  situation 
was  appreciated,  and  notwithstanding  their  fatigue  the  boys  could 
not  forego  so  excellent  an  opportunity  for  a  little  spouting,  and  the 
way  Shakespeare  was  travestied  to  suit  the  occasion  and  the 
audience,  was  not  slow,  as  the  frequent  and  hearty  applause  of  the 
latter  proved. 

Near  12,  when  heavy  slumber  pressed  upon  the  weary  "  Twenty - 
Onesters"  to  that  degree  that  a  chorus  of  sonorous  complaints  on 
every  key  rose  from  the  seats,  I  chanced  to  lie  with  my  face  to  the 
stage,  which  was  still  dimly  lighted  by  a  bit  of  candle.  Just  at  that 
moment  one  of  the  sleepers  moved  an  arm,  touching  a  canteen  upon 
the  wall,  and  causing  it  to  vibrate  with  a  musical  sound  which 
seemed  to  indicate  that  its  contents  were  of  a  more  etherial  nature 


152  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

than  the  sober  juices  of  the  earth,  ere  they  have  ripened  in  the 
golden  grain.  As  if  summoned  by  the  sound,  rose  from  the  folds 
of  slumber  and  a  blanket,  a  lank  cadaverous  figure  which  earlier  in 
the  evening  had  been  seen  shivering  about  the  stage  in  a  blanket, 
chattering  "Poor  Tom's  a  cold."  He  glared  on  the  sleeping  forms 
around,  listened  eagerly,  and  as  his  eye  caught  the  still  soniferous 
canteen,  his  ghostly  face  shortened  in  a  most  unearthly  smile  of 
satisfaction : 

"  Is  this  a  canteen,  which  I  see  before  me  ? 
Thou  marshalest  me  the  way  I  want  to  go, 
And  such  an  instrument  I  like  to  use. 
Come,  let  me  clutch  thee." 

Reaching  it,  he  gave  it  a  shake  that  made  its  contents  chink  again, 
and  eying  the  unconscious  victim  whose  —  whiskey  he  was  about 
to  shed,  again : 

"  Hear  it  not  Muggins,  for  it  is  the  knell 
Of  that  thou  lovest  '  not  wisely,  but  too  well.'  " 

and  then  his  head  fell  back,  his  eyes  closed  as  his  mouth  opened, 
and  the  rapid  motion  of  his  swallowing  apparatus  indicated  the 
value  of  time  in  a  contest  of  wind  against  tide.  Finally  after  several 
frantic  efforts,  he  succeeded  in  getting  it  away  from  his  mouth  just 
time  to  escape  strangulation,  heaved  a  deep  sigh  of  satisfaction, 
replaced  the  cork  and  the  canteen,  and  turned  again  to  take  up  the 
broken  thread  of  slumber  ;  — 

"  I've  done  the  deed  —  " 
sinking  back  into  the  blanket,  and  — 

"  Didst  thou  not  h-e-a-r  a  n-o-i-s-e  ?  " 

ended  in  a  dreamy  drawl,  smothered  in  its  sleepy  folds,  and  a 
moment  after,  a  wailing  snore  went  up  like  the  groan  of  an  uneasy 
conscience.  ^ 

Next  morning  many  were  the  stiffened  joints  refusing  to  be 
comforted,  severe  rheumatism  racked  the  bones  of  others,  and  few 
voices  were  entirely  clear.  Many  were  left  in  hospital,  few  from  our 
regiment,  however ;  and  a  few  never  recovered  from  the  effects  of 
that  one  day's  exposure  and  over-exertion.  Our  own  orderly, 
David  Tuttle,  could  not  speak  that  morning,  and  was  soon  afterward 
discharged,  an  invalid. 

Those  of  us  who  were  in  good  bodily  condition  and  had  dry 
clothing  in  our  knapsacks,  had  not  suffered  much. 


TWENTY- FIRST     REGIMENT.  153 

Breakfast  ot  good  soft  bread  from  the  Government  bakeries, 
bacon  which  we  cooked  in  the  street,  with  our  coffee,  and  then  we 
were  marched  to  the  depot,  as  we  were  to  return  temporarily  to  our 
old  camps,  the  town  being  full  of  troops  and  the  transports  not  yet 
ready ;  but  alter  waiting  two  hours,  many  of  the  boys  became 
impatient,  and  started  for  camp  in  squads. 

It  was  a  relief  to  reach  the  hill  again,  after  the  trials  of  the 
preceding  day  ;  and  most  of  the  men  turned  into  their  old  bunks, 
glad  to  have  one  more  good  rest  on  the  straw. 

The  last  stragglers  arrived  at  night  on  the  train  with  Augur's 
brigade.  This  was  Sunday,  and -emphatically  a  day  of  rest. 

Next  day  we  cleaned  our  muskets  and  accoutrements,  which 
had  suffered  in  the  storm,  and  necessarily  been  neglected  since. 
Lieutenant  Wheeler  was  detached  to  act  as  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General  on  Colonel  Rogers'  staff 

On  Tuesday,  March  i8th,  we  received  orders  to  march  at  four 
P.  M.,  for  Alexandria  ;  or,  at  least,  we  supposed  that  to  be  our 
destination. 


154  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


CHAPTER    VII. 


Camp  Misery,  alias  Camp  Disappointment. — Cold,  Wet  and  Hungry. — McClellan  embarks  for  the 
Peninsula,  and  we  are  left  behind. — Arrival  of  General  Patrick. — Snow  and  Rain. — Clears  up. — 
"On  to  Richmond"  again. — Three  days'  March. — Bristow. — More  Snow  and  Rain. — "  Eternal 
Vigilance"  and  no  fires  allowed  on  Post.  — Foraging. — Bushwhackers  around. — "Forward 
March  !  " 


CAMP  Misery  was  the  very  appropriate  name  given  by  the  men 
to  the  spot  where  we  lay  in  the  mud  for  three  weeks  of  such 
weather  as  Virginia  only  can  boast  at  that  season  of  the  year, 
combining  the  growlings  and  rough  usage  of  March  with  the  not- 
at-all-scalding  tears  of  April ;  and  no  one  doubted  that  both  of  these 
months  were  in  their  sulkiest  mood  at  the  time  of  which  we  write. 

After  leaving  Camp  Niagara,  really  for  the  last  time,  on  that 
1 8th  day  of  March,  we  took  the  Leesburgh  turnpike,  and  after 
we  had  marched  about  three  miles  toward  Alexandria,  and  a 
mile  beyond  Bailey's  we  were  filed  off  into  the  woods  beside  the 
road,  and  pitched  our  tents  among  the  trees,  apparently  a  third  or 
fourth  growth,  as  they  were  all  saplings,  and  the  ground  had  once 
been  tilled.  Here  lay  McDowell's  corps  d'armee,  awaiting  the  grand 
movement  upon  Richmond ;  and,  thinking  our  stay  must  be  short, 
we  made  our  camping  preparations  accordingly,  which  means  that 
we  made  no  preparation  at  all.  Our  tents  were  pitched  without 
regard  to  order,  only  keeping  the  companies  together;  and,  leveling1 
a  few  trees,  we  built  fires,  for  the  evening  began  to  cool.  The  night 
was  damp  and  chilly,  the  next  morning  cool  and  cloudy. 

In  the  night  following  came  a  rain  storm,  putting  out  our  fires 
and  inundating  many  tents,  the  ground  being  low  and  affording  no 
chance  to  drain.  The  storm  continued  during  the  succeeding  day, 
rendering  our  position  almost  intolerable. 

On  Friday,  March  2ist,  we  learned  that  General  King  had  been 
promoted  to  the  command  of  our  division,  and  that  M.  R.  Patrick, 
a  veteran  of  the  regular  army,  until  lately  Inspector  General  upon 
Gov.  Morgan's  staff,  had  been  appointed  to  the  command  of  our 
brigade.  The  Colonel  was  probably  the  only  man  in  the  brigade 
not  disappointed  at  this,  but  all  were  prepared  to  welcome  the  new 
comer  "  as  one  having  authority." 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  155 

Again  it  rained  during  two  successive  nights. 

On  Sunday,  March  23d,  the  troops  at  Alexandria  had  begun  to 
embark,  and  it  was  rumored  that  we  were  not  to  go.  That  evening 
at  parade  were  read  the  proceedings  of  some  twenty  courts-martial, 
in  each  of  which  the  sentence  was  death ;  the  whole  ending  with  a 
pardon  for  all  from  the  Commander-in- Chief.  The  offences  varied 
from  sleeping  on  post,  to  mutiny. 

On  Tuesday,  March  25th,  the  brigade  was  inspected  in  the 
morning,  and  after  noon  McDowell  reviewed  his  corps. 

Gen.  Patrick  inspected  his  brigade  for  the  first  time  on  the 
Friday  following.  After  "putting  us  through  "  for  a  while,  to  test 
our  paces,  he  caused  us  to  form  by  companies  in  column,  and  after 
a  thorough  inspection  of  arms,  accoutrements  and  knapsacks,  he  gave 
us  a  talk.  Among  other  keepsakes,  he  said  he  observed  in  nearly 
every  knapsack  a  copy  of  the  Bible.  He  saw  in  that  a  proof  that 
we  had  Christian  friends  at  home,  whose  prayers  would  follow  us 
to  the  field.  He  hoped  that  we  read  the  book  and  pondered  its 
sacred  teachings,  and  that  we  would  bear  ourselves  as  men  having 
an  interest  in  its  promises.  I  do  not  remember  his  exact  words, 
but  few  who  heard  them  will  forget  their  effect.  Unfortunately, 
although  we  then  liked  the  good  old  man,  we  did  not  understand 
him,  and  the  difference  between  his  subsequent  severe  discipline, 
and  the  indulgent  treatment  of  his  predecessor,  made  us  draw 
immense  contrasts  in  favor  of  the  latter.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the 
majority  of  the  men  hated  him  heartily  before  we  had  been  a  month 
under  his  command ;  and  it  was  not  until  the  sad  days  of  the  next 
autumn,  that  increasing  respect  grew  into  absolute  love,  and  then, 
we  loved  him  indeed.  With  the  stern  nature  of  the  Puritan, 
relieved  by  a  shade  of  grim  humor,  he  was  possessed  of  the  kindest 
nature;  and  brave  himself,  he  lavished  a  peculiar  love  upon  brave, 
dutiful  followers,  while  to  the  coward  and  the  slink,  he  was  a  scourge 
and  a  thorn.  His  was  the  heart  that  \vould  weep  for  the  falling, 
while  his  keen  eye  marked,  and  his  ringing  voice  urged  on  the 
living. 

The  words  of  that  morning  were  his  first  to  us,  and  never 
afterward  did  he  neglect  a  proper  opportunity  to  speak  to  his 
command  upon  such  subjects. 

Next  morning  began  a  storm  of  mingled  rain  and  snow,  which 
froze  a  glassy  surface  upon  everything  exposed  to  its  influence.  A 
dog,  unless  endowed  with  immense  fortitude,  and  almost  human 
intelligence,  must  have  died  under  the  sufferings  of  that  and  the 


156  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

two  following  days.  All  our  clothes  were  wet,  and  no  fires  could 
be  built,  or  if  with  intense  pains  they  were  once  lighted,  they 
refused  to  blaze  up  warmly,  and  only  stifled  us  with  smoke,  while 
our  little  tents  afforded  only  the  merest  shelter  from  the  driving 
storm,  and  when  the  men  on  guard  duty  were  relieved  and  came  to 
rest  there  in  their  ice  coated  garments,  they  could  neither  dry 
themselves  nor  have  the  food  necessary  to  their  comfort. 

Our  old  tents  at  Upton's  Hill  were  still  standing,  and  although 
they  had  been  turned  over  to  the  Quartermaster's  department,  and 
we  had  no  right  to  them,  the  officers  connived  at  our  bringing  them 
for  shelter. 

On  Sunday,  the  3Oth,  might  be  seen,  all  day,  squads  of  men 
going  across  the  country  to  the  hill,  and  returning  with  tents,  stoves 
and  boards,  and  next  day  the  camp  wore  an  air  of  comparative 
comfort.  I  have  since  heard  that  General  Patrick,  severe 
disciplinarian  as  he  was,  rode  miles  out  of  his  way  on  that  day  that 
he  might  not  see  what  strict  duty  would  have  compelled  him  to 
forbid. 

The  last  day  of  March,  and  the  three  following,  were  serenely 
beautiful ;  the  mud  dried  up,  and  life  once  more  wore  a  pleasant 
garb.  We  passed  the  time  in  repairing  the  various  ravages  of  the 
storm  in  our  arrangements  for  comfort.  McClellan,  with  his 
peninsular  army  had  got  under  way,  and  we  were  cautioned  to 
prepare  ourselves  for  a  movement. 

On  the  morning  of  April  4th  the  orders  came,  and  gleefully 
did  the  boys  strike  their  tents  and  make  up  their  packs.  The  large 
tents  were  rolled  up  to  send  to  Alexandria,  and  again  the  Irish , 
linen  was  our  only  dependence.  By  two  all  were  ready,  and  at  four 
we  gaily  took  the  road,  the  band  leading  off  with  a  flourish,  and  the 
boys  singing  as  they  "  rolled  along."  The  afternoon  was  beautifully 
sunny,  and  the  contrast  between  the  present  brightness  and  the  past 
misery,  put  all  in  the  best  possible  humor. 

Again  the  cry  was  "  On  to  Richmond."  Though  McClellan, 
with  the  balance  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  was  to  make  the  direct 
attack,  and  McDowell's  corps  were  used  more  as  a  safeguard  to  the 
capital,  yet,  in  the  event  of  success,  we  were  expecting  to  join  in  the 
grand  result.  The  enemy  between  us  and  the  rebel  capital  might  fall 
back  to  its  support,  in  which  case  we  should  join  with  McClellan 
in  time  to  "  be  in  at  the  death." 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  157 

Taking  the  road  to  Manassas  we  marched  that  afternoon  until 
about  three  miles  beyond  Anandale,  where  we  halted  for  the  night  ; 
having  accomplished  a  distance  of  seven  miles. 

Rain  set  in  during  the  night  and  our  next  morning's  march  was 
less  agreeable.  Again  we  passed  through  Fairfax,  halting  for 
dinner  upon  our  former  camping  ground. 

We  kept  on  through  Centreville,  passed  the  old  house  once 
Beauregard's  headquarters,  waded  Bull  Run  at  Blackburn's 
Ford,  and  near  evening  halted  near  the  ground  of  the  opening 
engagement  on  the  1 8th  of  July,  1861,  having  marched  eighteen 
miles.  We  bivouacked  in  an  old  rebel  camp.  All  along 
the  road  after  leaving  Centreville  were  indications  of  the  hasty 
retreat  of  the  enemy.  Dead  horses  and  mules  and  broken  gun- 
carriages  lay  in  ditches  by  the  roadside,  and  abandoned  wagons 
stood  here  and  there.  The  remains  of  camps,  and  the  numberless 
tracks  cut  by  the  forage  trains,  showed  how  large  the  force  must 
have  been. 

Next  day,  Sunday,  April  6th,  we  broke  camp  and  marched  at 
nine.  The  morning  was  pleasant  and  we  were  allowed  to  take  it 
easy,  as  we  had  not  a  long  day's  march  before  us.  Near  twelve  we 
reached  Manassas  Junction,  and  after  a  short  halt,  during  which  we 
examined  the  fortifications  and  the  piles  of  railroad  property  left 
behind,  we  kept  on.  This  day  we  passed  some  of  the  muddiest 
stretches  of  road  we  had  yet  seen,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  that  the  wagon  trains  could  be  got  over  them.  The  day 
grew  warm,  and  we  made  occasional  halts,  as  the  boys  said,  "  to 
let  the  knapsacks  rest."  Soon  after  noon  we  forded  Broad  Run  at 
•Millford,  and  at  about  three  halted  in  a  wood  near  Bristow  Station 
and  pitched  our  tents. 

The  fences  disappeared  along  the  skirt  of  the  wood  with 
marvellous  rapidity,  and  nearly  every  tent  was  soon  flanked  by  a 
pile  of  rails  ;  for  the  boys  very  reasonably  preferred  dry,  seasoned 
wood  to  green  fuel,  which  they  would,  besides,  have  to  cut  down 
for  themselves  —  no  easy  work  after  a  march,  and  with  the  limited 
number  of  dull  axes  we  carried. 

A  storm  of  snow  and  rain  commenced  next  day,  and  continued 
until  Friday,  the  nth,  five  days  of  unmitigated  misery.  It  was 
terribly  cold,  and  the  sleet  froze  upon  the  tents  and  our  clothing,  to 
be  thawed  off  by  the  fires  and  add  to  our  discomfort  by  keeping  us 
constantly  wet.  The  supply  of  rails  within  reach  soon  disappeared, 
and  then  our  green  wood  fires  wanted  constant  nursing,  and  when 


158  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

by  dint  of  that  they  grew  to  a  goodly  blaze,  we  crowded  round  as 
near  as  possible, —  positions  on  the  windward  side,  when  that 
side  happened  to  be  decided,  being  at  a  premium, —  and  turned 
like  animated  spits,  each  side  alternately  to  be  scorched  and 
frozen.  By  constant  trampling,  the  ground  became  of  that 
consistency  which  makes  appropriate  the  tallest  kind  of  top-boots, 
and  fortunate  indeed  were  the  owners  of  such  articles.  A  large 
detail  went  on  brigade  guard  each  morning,  and  were  not  allowed 
to  return  to  the  shelter  of  their  tents  until  relieved  next  day  ;  an  old 
straw  stack  having  to  serve  them  as  a  guard  house  during  their 
twenty-four  hours  of  duty.  No  fires  were  allowed  on  post,  probably 
to  make  the  men  more  vigilant,  on  the  same  principle  that  prompts 
the  starving  of  the  hound,  and  the  sentinels  were  charged  to  shoot 
any  one  attempting  to  run  the  line. 

In  short,  it  was  but  a  repetition  ol  what  we  suffered  at  Camp 
Misery,  and  with  the  added  disadvantage  of  deeper  mud  and  more 
severe  duty. 

The  surrounding  country  was  reported  to  be  full  of  prowling 
partisans,  or  "  bushwhackers,"  as  these  guerrilla  parties  were  called, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  loth,  we  heard  that  three  men,  stragglers 
from  another  camp,  had  been  found  some  miles  away;  tied  to  trees 
and  with  their  throats  cut. 

On  the  nth  the  storm  ceased.  The  sky  cleared  up,  an 
inspection  was  ordered  at  noon,  and  at  five  we  had  the  first  parade 
since  the  storm  began.  On  the  same  day,  Franklin's  division, 
which  had  accompanied  ours  thus  far,  was  ordered  back,  to  report 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  and  finally  to  join  McClellan  on  the  Peninsula. 

The  1 3th  of  April  was  a  day  set  apart  by  the  Government  in 
thanksgiving  for  the  late  victories,  and  properly  observed  throughout 
the  armies  of  the  Union.  Services  were  held  upon  the  parade 
ground  at  noon,  and  after  prayers  by  the  Chaplain,  General  Patrick 
preached  us  one  of  his  sermons.  At  just  this  time  all  will  remember 
with  what  feeling  we  regarded  the  good  old  General,  because  we 
did  not  understand  him  and  that  his  treatment  was  for  our  ultimate 
advantage,  as  we  all  know  now.  So  the  good  things  he  said  to  us 
then,  I  am  afraid,  fell  upon  heedless  ears.  Among  other  things,  he 
said : 

Be  men.  Learn  to  respect  yourselves,  and  others  will  respect  you.  A  good 
soldier  ought  to  be  a  good  moral  man — and  a  bad  man  is  not  likely  to  make  a  good 
soldier.  Rise  above  temptation  to  do  wrong.  Suffer  yourselves  to  contract  no 
habits  while  here  which  you  will  be  ashamed  to  carry  home  with  you,  or  which  will 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  159 

make  the  virtuous  and  good  shun  you,  or  be  afraid  of  you,  or  despise  you.  I  am  an 
old  soldier,  and  have  been  in  the  Mexican  war.  And  among  the  western  regiments 
that  shared  in  that  war  were  many  who,  while  there,  became  so  demoralized,  that  on 
their  return  home,  whole  communities  where  they  dwelt  became  deteriorated  for 
years  and  years,  through  their  defiling  contact.  Let  us  hope  better  things  of  you,  so 
that  when  this  war  is  over,  and  you  go  back  to  your  friends,  who  will  rejoice  over 
your  return  and  your  honorable  exploits,  they  will  not  have  occasion  to  blush  for 
your  vices,  and  perhaps  wish,  in  bitterness,  that  you  had  rather  died  than  be  morally 
blighted  by  ever  entering  on  so  ruinous  a  service. 

The  weather  now  became  delightful,  the  mud  rapidly  dried  up, 
and  we  began  to  expect  another  march. 

On  the  1 5th  Augur's  brigade,  of  our  division,  moved  forward, 
and  we  also  prepared  to  vacate  "  Camp  Wadsworth,"  as  we  had 
christened  our  mud  hole,  just  by  way  of  giving  it  one  redeeming 
feature.  At  noon  of  the  next  clay  we  got  our  orders,  and  lost  not  a 
moment  in  obeying.  The  march  was  easy,  the  road  not  very  bad, 
and  we  jogged  along  about  as  we  pleased,  as  we  had  only  to  report 
at  Catlett's  that  night,  thus  having  six  hours  in  which  to  march  less 
than  ten  miles.  At  six  we  were  again  encamped  in  the  woods 
about  a  mile  west  of  Catlett's  Station.  Augur's  brigade  were  here, 
and  next  day  they  moved  on  again,  this  time  taking  a  new  direction 
more  to  the  east  of  our  former  course  and  toward  Fredericksburg, 
while  we  remained. 

We  all  agreed  that  this  part  of  Virginia  was  the  finest  we  had 
yet  seen.  There  were  then  no  apparent  marks  of  war's  ravages. 
The  gently  undulating  country  alternated  in  tufted  hills  and  wooded 
dales,  and  green  fields  with  fences  untouched ;  and,  adding  its 
grandeur  to  the  beauty  of  the  scene,  in  the  distance  rose  the  cloud- 
like,  mist-crowned  Blue  Ridge. 

Next  morning,  at  six,  we  were  again  in  motion.  Orders  had  come 
during  the  night,  and  four  companies,  "  A,"  "  F,"  "  G,"  and  "  I," 
detailed  the  day  before  as  a  picket  along  Cedar  run,  some  four  miles 
from  camp,  had  to  be  recalled,  arriving  just  in  time  to  fall  into  their 
places  in  column.  Back  through  the  woods  to  Catlett's  and  to  the 
South-East,  lay  the  course  of  our  morning's  march.  At  about  ten  we 
reached  Elk  run  where  we  halted  for  a  short  rest,  until  a  hasty 
bridge  could  be  made  for  the  wagons.  Forty-eight  hours  had  been 
given  us  in  which  to  reach  Falmouth,  a  distance  of  thirty-six  miles ; 
and  allowing  for  possible  obstacles  and  necessary  rest,  it  was  none 
too  much.  The  day  was  warm  for  a  forced  march,  and  heavy 
knaps  icks  speedily  grew  light.  Many  of  the  men  had  left  their 


160  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

overcoats  hanging  upon  the  trees  at  the  last  night's  camp,  thinking 
the  blankets  heavy  enough,  and  confiding  in  the  promise  of  fine 
nights  for  some  time  to  come  at  least,  when  the  latter  would  be 
sufficient. 

An  excellent  description  of  that  day's  march,  is  the  following 
letter  written  a  few  days,  after,  by  "  Bould  Soger,"  which  we  take 
the  liberty  of  borrowing  : 

Our  march  was  through  a  country  that  war  has  not  made  desolate,  and  a  beautiful 
country  it  was.  Rolling  land,  fine  farms,  the  fences  all  up,  good  looking  farm  houses, 
peach  orchards  in  full  bloom,  and  the  whole  surface  of  the  country  beautiful  by  the 
magnificent  green  of  spring.  As  we  marched  on,  groups  of  the  loyal  people  of  the 
South  gathered  at  the  road  side  to  see  us  pass,  and  seemed  greatly  pleased  at  the 
sight.  Many  of  them  followed  us  for  miles,  walking  through  the  fields  by  the  road 
side,  and  feasting  their  eyes  upon  the  splendid  pageant.  They  seemed  to  have  been 
expecting  our  advent,  and  welcomed  us  with  extravagant  manifestations  of  joy.  One 
venerable  old  "Uncle"  in  a  two  wheeled  vehicle,  and  driving  a  venerable  old 
donkey,  shouted  as  we  passed,  "  We's  mighty  glad  to  see  you  gentlemen;  been 
specting  you  long  time;  the  more  of  you  we  sees,  the  gladder  we  is."  Quite  a 
number  of  the  darkies  cast  in  their  lot  with  us,  and  found  plenty  of  employment 
among  the  officers  and  men.  I  don't  think  any  of  us  have  many  scruples  about 
appropriating  a  few  hundred  dollars  worth  of  the  "peculiar"  property  to  our  own 
use.  "John  Brown's  soul,"  if  it  be  the  spirit  of  disorganization  to  the  "institution," 
and  "emancipation  to  its  victims,"  "  is  marching  on."  One  negro  asked  me  what 

he  had  better  do.  Tasked  him  who  he  belonged  to.  "  Massa ."  "Well, 

do  what  you  like,  and  go  where  you  please.  You  don't  belong  to  Massa any 

more  than  Massa belongs  to  you."  That  may  be  strong  talk,  but  it's  the 

doctrine  I  mean  to  preach  to  every  negro  who  has  understanding  enough  to  compre 
hend  what  belonging  to  himself  means.  Let  us  sow  the  seeds  "  as  we  march  along," 
and  perhaps  by  and  by,  Amos  Kendall's  army  of  three  hundred  thousand  loyal 
Southern  men  will  be  forthcoming. 

We  halted  for  dinner  in  a  pine  wood,  but  as  no  good  water  could  be  found,  the 
column  moved  on  another  mile  or  two,  and  halted  near  a  spring  of  good  cold  water, 
and  by  the  side  of  a  clear  little  run.  No  person  but  one  who  has  been  a  soldier,  can 
fully  understand  the  joy  with  which  the  order  to  rest  for  dinner  is  received.  You  set 
out  at  sunrise,  and  have  marched  perhaps  six  hours.  During  this  time  you  have 
made,  at  the  most,  three  rests,  each  of  ten  minutes  duration.  You  are  twelve  or 
thirteen  miles  distance  from  the  starting  point.  You  have  carried  a  load,  weighing 
at  the  very  lowest  estimate  twenty-five  pounds.  The  day  has  been  warm  and  the 
roads  dusty.  The  sun  is  at  the  zenith,  and  its  language  plainly  is,  "  halt,  or  I'll  melt 
you."  The  men  are  beginning  to  straggle.  Every  few  yards  a  man  falls  out,  sits 
down  by  the  road  side,  and  looks  at  his  officers  as  though  to  say,  "  If  you  can  stand 
it,  go  ahead,  but  you  need  not  order  me  to  go  on  for  I  shan't  do  it.  You  can  shoot 
me  if  you  like,  but  I  don't  move  another  step.  If  the  General  thinks  we  can  stand 
this  as  long  as  can  his  horse,  why  let  him  think  so  and  go  on,  and  fight  the  battles 
alone.  I'm  '  played  out,'  and  am  going  to  have  my  little  rest."  This  is  the  plain 
language  of  the  look  I  have  seen  a  hundred  times.  Perhaps  word  is  sent  to  the  front 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  l6l 

that  it  is  impossible  to  keep  the  men  from  falling  out,  and  straggling;  but  still  the 
column  presses  on.  You  begin  to  think  of  falling  out,  but  your  ambition  throws  the 
thought  aside,  and  you  struggle  on.  You  are  growing  desperate  ;  the  knapsack  straps 
cut  your  shoulders,  and  compress  your  chest ;  great  beads  of  sweat  start  from  the 
pores  and  mingle  most  lovingly  with  the  accumulating  dust. 

Perhaps,  too,  you  have  commenced  to  chafe,  and  your  feet  to  blister.  You  are 
thirsty,  and  your  parched  throat  would  even  welcome  the  water  from  the  ditch. 
Your  head  drops  forward,  and  you  stagger  on,  as  I  have  seen  the  pedestrian  in  the 
ninety-ninth  hour,  heeding  nothing ;  alike  unconscious  to  the  loveliness  of  the  valley, 
or  the  wild  beauty  of  the  highlands.  If  any  less  fatigued  than  yourself  would  cheer 
you,  you  seem  to  hear  them  not,  or  respond  with  a  look  of  despair.  You  plod  on, 
— drag  yourself  along, — place  one  foot  before  the  other  as  though  the  next  step  would 
be  your  last.  At  this  moment,  perhaps,  the  head  of  the  column  turns  off  from  the 
dusty  road  into  the  green  fields,  and  you  know  the  "rest  for  dinner"  is  at  hand. 
You  will  remember  the  dropping  of  your  knapsack  so  long  as  you  live.  An  oasis  in 
the  desert,  a  spring  by  the  wayside,  is  the  "rest  for  dinner "  in  the  day's  march. 
Have  I  overdrawn  the  picture  ?  Have  I  laid  on  the  colors  too  heavily  ?  Is  the 
'•'sunshine"  too  much  obscured?  It  is  not.  Yesterday  I  saw  the  look  of  despair, 
saw  men  fall  out  by  the  road  side,  and  they  could  have  hardly  gone  on  had  the 
penalty  for  falling  out  been  death.  I  saw  men  drink  the  yellow  water  from  the 
ditches,  and  I  saw  the  knapsacks  dropped  as  though  they  had  been  hot  coals. 

It  seems  to  have  been  generally  understood  yesterday  morning,  that  we  were 
about  to  enter  upon  an  active  and  arduous  campaign,  and  the  men  made  preparations 
for  it.  During  our  year  of  camp  life,  we  had  accumulated  many  little  traps,  very 
"handy  to  have  in  the  house,"  when  the  said  house  is  stationary,  but  very  unhandy 
and  very  heavy  when  one's  domicile  is  transported  on  one's  back.  Books,  brush 
brooms,  checker-boards,  surplus  shirts  and  drawers,  and  "Yankee  notions"  of  all 
descriptions  were  thrown  out  before  we  commenced  the  large  march.  Later  in  the 
clay,  as  the  sun  grew  warmer  and  the  knapsacks  heavier,  rubber  and  wooled  blankets, 
overcoats  and  even  knapsacks  went  the  way  of  the  morning's  trinkets.  Had  the  huge 
Williamsville  stage  followed  in  our  track,  it  could  have  been  filled  to  repletion  with 
the  castaway  clothing.  The  negroes  availed  themselves  of  the  rare  chance,  and 
gathered  up  the  clothing  as  fast  as  it  was  thrown  away.  In  the  pine  wood  where  we 
first  halted  for  dinner,  I  saw  two  of  them  hurrying  hither  and  thither,  gathering  up 
the  coats,  pants,  vests,  blankets,  and  depositing  them  in  one  huge  pile.  No  doubt, 
like  my  venerable  friend  in  the  cart,  "  the  more  they  sees  of  us  the  gladder  they  is." 

After  a  good  hour's  nooning,  we  again  moved  on,  with  renewed  strength  and 
vigor.  We  have  passed  over  eighteen  miles  of  the  distance  to  Fredericksburg,  and 
a  halt  is  ordered.  It  is  intended  to  pass  the  night  here,  but  as  water  in  sufficient 
quantity  cannot  be  found,  we  are  obliged  to  move  on  three  or  four  miles.  Thick, 
black  clouds  have  commenced  to  gather,  and  already  they  hide  the  sun.  Heaven's 
heavy  artillery  has  opened  fire,  and  the  continuous  peal  makes  the  solid  earth  tremble. 
It  is  growing  dark,  the  lightning  dazzles  and  Hashes,  and  the  succeeding  darkness  is 
all  the  blacker.  A  vivid  flash,  a  deafening  crash,  and  a  few  big  drops,  like  the 
"advanced  guard  "  of  an  army,  warn  us  of  the  torrents  they  precede.  We  have  two 
miles  yet  to  march  before  we  halt.  15 e  merciful,  oh  ye  black  clouds!  keep  the 
wash-tub  right  side  up  with  care,  until  we  reach  our  bivouac,  build  a  few  fires,  and 


l62  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

crawl  into  our  shelter  tents.  Think  if  you  were  only  a  poor  soger,  and — St.  Partick 
bring  confusion  upon  you,  and  keep  us  dry.  But  the  venerable  saint  did  not  keep 
us  dry,  and  I  presume  he  let  alone  the  clouds.  A  thunder  storm  of  an  hour's 
duration  !  every  one  knows  what  it  is,  and  how  wet  a  man  may  get  if  he  be  exposed 
to  it.  I  stepped  into  a  house  near  our  bivouac  and  made  a  cup  of  coffee.  The  lady 
of  the  house  said  to  me  that  she  "  was  always  happy  to  wait  upon  our  soldiers."  "  So 
you  are  a  Union  lady  ?  "  "  O  yes,  strong.  I  came  from  the  North- West."  I  asked  in 
regard  to  her  neighbors.  She  replied  that  they  were  mostly  strong  Union  people. 
At  this  house,  this  morning,  were  captured  thirteen  of  our  men,  belonging,  I  believe, 
to  Augur's  brigade.  There  are  no  large  organized  rebel  forces  in  the  country  north 
of  Fredericksburg,  and  near  the  Potomac,  but  from  the  capture  of  these  men,  I  should 
judge  the  country  was  infested  with  small  bands  of  rebels.  General  Patrick  captured 
one  of  these  gentry  yesterday,  and  he  was  marched  at  the  head  of  our  column  to 
Falmouth.  I  know  not  what  disposition  was  made  of  him,  but  suppose  he  is  safely 
in  limbo. 

Last  night  was  not  the  most  comfortable  our  regiment  has  passed  since  we  have 
been  in  the  service.  We  halted  for  the  night,  and  made  ourselves  as  comfortable  as 
our  wet  clothing  and  wet  beds  would  permit.  We  took  the  rails  from  the  fences, 
made  our  fires,  laid  rails  alongside  of  them,  ourselves  upon  the  rails,  and  passed  a 
restless,  miserable  night.  Many  of  the  men  slept  in  the  houses  and  barns  in  the 
vicinity,  but  the  majority,  if  they  slept  at  all,  did  so  in  the  open  air,  upon  the  damp 
ground,  and  woke  up  this  morning  stiff  and  lame. 

Every  man  in  the  ranks  on  that  day,  now  alive  to  tell  the  tale, 
will  remember  vividly  the  scene  of  that  night's  bivouac.  We  had 
halted,  as  "  Bould  Soger  "  says,  intending  to  rest  for  the  night,  some 
five  miles  back,  near  a  pleasant  farm  house,  on  high  ground,  and 
while  it  was  yet  dry.  Even  then  black  masses  of  thunder  cloud 
rolling  up  in  the  South-West,  warned  us  that  to  move  farther  for  want 
of  water  would  ere  long  be  superfluous.  Many  of  the  men  had 
already  pitched  their  shelter  tents,  declaring  themselves  "  played 
out."  and  unable  to  march  a  step  farther.  But  when  General 
Patrick  called  the  brigade  to  attention,  and  asked  how  many  were 
willing  to  march  five  miles  farther,  the  next  regiment  in  line  with  a 
great  yell  declared  that  they  would,  and  then,  not  to  be  "  blufifed," 
as  they  said,  our  own  tired  fellows  got  again  upon  their  feet,  and, 
determined  to  maintain  their  reputation  as  the  hardest  marching 
regiment  in  the  corps,  declared  that  they'd  "  make  those  fellows  sick 
of  their  five  miles  before  dark."  In  the  blinding  torrent  of  the  next 
hour  we  passed  them  on  the  road,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of 
camping  at  least  a  mile  beyond  them.  Ere  then,  many  had  fallen 
exhausted  by  the  road  side,  and  now,  in  the  darkness,  and  totally 
blind  as  to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  each  company  sought  a  resting 
place  for  itself;  for  to  one  place  large  enough  to  camp  upon  could 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  163 

be  found  above  water,  and  in  the  darkness  each  company  sought 
to  draw  in  its  scattered  members  by  loudly  calling  out  its  letter. 
Soon  all  was  still ;  and  when  the  lightning  glared  for  a  moment,  if 
any  one  had  been  awake  to  see,  the  ground  would  have  shown 
groups  of  sleeping  men,  in  the  attitudes  in  which  they  fell  with  their 
loosened  burdens,  oblivious  of  all,  unmindful  of  the  elemental  clash, 
slumbering  as  only  a  tired  soldier  can  slumber,  while  upon  all  the 
rain  beat  drearily. 

In  the  morning  we  awoke  refreshed.  It  was  as  though  we  had, 
during  the  night,  been  transported  miles  into  the  heart  of  another 
country.*  So  different  was  the  face  of  nature  to  our  renovated 
senses,  and  so  oblivious  of  all  but  our  fatigue  had  we  been  the  night 
before.  The  bugle  soon  got  the  stragglers  together,  and  then  the 
coffee  cups  were  put  upon  the  coals,  and  a  hearty  meal  of  soaked 
hard-tack,  etc.,  prepared  us  for  the  day's  march. 

I  shall  never  forget  one  incident  of  this  march.  At  Catlett's,  on 
the  second  night  of  our  bivouac,  we  were  joined  by  a  squad  of 
recruits,  the  last  we  ever  received.  Major  Drew,  who  had  enlisted 
them,  had  them  in  charge.  One,  a  slight  handsome  boy  who  could 
not  have  been  more  than  fifteen  years  of  age,  attracted  me  especially. 
His  history,  or  as  much  of  it  as  I  afterwards  learned,  was  as  follows : 
His  parents  lived  in  Canada,  and  being  of  an  ardent  impetuous 
temper,  and  fired  with  the  desire  to  see  and  take  part  in  the  struggle 
"  over  the  border,"  he  had  deserted  his  school  and  applied  to  Major 
Drew  for  the  position  of  private  in  the  Twenty-First  N.  Y.  S.  V. 
His  sorrowing  parents  discovered  his  whereabouts  while  the  Major 
was  hesitating  to  accept  one  so  young,  but  still  the  boy  was 
determined  to  go,  and  finally  it  was  arranged  that  he  should 
accompany  the  Major  as  a  sort  of  confidential  servant,  and  thus  be 
under  his  personal  protection.  I  saw  him  often  during  that  day's 
march,  pale,  apparently  almost  exhausted,  yet  with  fire  in  his  eye, 
and  manful  nerve  in  every  effort.  A  pitying  soldier  relieved  him 
of  his  pack,  and  when  night  came  he  shared  the  blanket  of  another 
and  slept  like  a  hero,  and  next  day  he  again  moved  on,  side  by  side 
with  strong  men,  with  a  heart  as  strong  as  any. 


:I  have  since  learned  that  the  name  of  the  spot  was  White  Ridge. 


164  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


We  reach  Fahnouth,  April  igth. — Skirmish  of  the  Ira  Harris  Cavalry. —  We  camp  "  over  against  the 
city." — The  situation. — Contrabands  in  Camp. — The  Woman  in  Black. — A  bit  of  Romance. — 
General  Wadsworth's  Visit. — -Removal  of  our  Camp. — A  Terrestrial  Paradise.— Another 
Removal,  and  a  Night  Alarm.- — Death  of  Garrett  B.  Lockwood. — We  cross  the  River. — Ha/el 
Dell  and  Horse  Heaven. — In  Line  of  Battle. — Picket  Duty.— More  Rain. 


THE  brigade  of  Gen.  Patrick,  King's  Division,  of  the  First  Army 
Corps,  reached  Falmouth,  Virginia,  on  Saturday,  the  igth 
day  of  April,  1862,  having  marched  thirty-six  miles  in  just  thirty 
hours,  and  rested  one  night  upon  the  road. 

On  the  morning  of  the  iQth,  as  the  last  chapter  relateth,  we 
rose,  like  Antseus,  refreshed  from  the  bosom  of  our  mother  Earth, 
and  blithely  took  the  road  again.  The  sun  blazed  up  into  a  clear 
sky,  and  made  the  muddy  road  to  smoke  with  a  fierceness  not  at  all 
pleasant  to  lungs  with  an  asthmatic  tendency, —  which  might, 
without  doubt,  be  laid  to  the  dampness  of  the  sheets  of  our  last 
night's  bed, —  and  the  sacred  soil  seemed  to  have  imbibed  some  of 
the  virulent  hatred  of  its  children  for  the  invader,  and  to  do  its  best 
endeavor  to  restrain  our  desecrating  feet.  Still  we  managed  to  do 
the  remaining  fourteen  miles  of  our  journey  (we  had  marched 
twenty-two  the  day  before)  in  good  time,  arriving  at  Falmouth  soon 
after  noon. 

Augur's  brigade  were  already  there,  having  arrived  the  day 
before.  Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  while  it  was  yet  dark,  the 
Ira  Harris  Cavalry,  in  advance,  made  a  dash  upon  Falmouth  to 
secure  the  bridge  across  the  Rappahannock.  About  a  mile  from 
the  bridge  they  were  checked  by  a  barricade  of  fence  rails  strongly 
built  across  the  road,  and  from  behind  which  and  the  woods  around, 
poured  a  murderous  fire.  Obliged  to  fall  back  upon  the  advancing 
column,  each  man  took  a  Berdan  sharpshooter  into  the  saddle 
behind  him,  and  again  approached  the  disputed  spot.  Dismounting, 
the  sharpshooters,  with  their  active  co-operation  a  wild  charge 
carried  the  point,  and  the  enemy,  a  small  force  as  rear  guard  only, 
fell  rapidly  back.  The  bridge  had  been  prepared  for  destruction 
by  a  thick  coat  of  tar  and  plenty  of  dry  combustibles,  and  as  the 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  165 

last  mounted  rebel  disappeared  across  it,  the  further  end  was  already 
ablaze.  Its  smoking-  timbers  were  dropping  piecemeal  into  the 
river  as  we  came  up.  In  front  of  the  barricade  lay  some  fifteen 
dead  horses,  seven  or  eight  grouped  immediately  in  front,  piled  up 
as  they  fell  when  checked  by  that  unexpected  fire.  The  killed  and 
wounded  had  been  removed,  and  a  few  fresh  mounds  by  the  road 
side  showed  where  those  slept  who  should  never  again  rise  to  the 
call  of  earthly  duty.  Among  these,  the  lamented  Lieutenant  Decker 
had  many  friends  with  us.  He  was  the  only  officer  killed  on  that 
morning. 

We  marched  along  through  the  antiquated  place,  whose  age 
could  hardly  give  it  an  air  of  respectability,  so  apparent  was  the 
corresponding  social  ruin  or  stagnation  of  its  fossil  population. 
Slatternly  women  thrust  their  heads  through  broken  windows,  and 
stared  unmindful  of  the  rude  greetings  of  some  of  the  rougher  of 
our  crew.  Some,  indeed,  were  young  and  pretty,  and  withal  seemed 
just  as  little  embarrassed  by  the  unsuppressecl  and  blunt  expressions 
of  admiration.  Few  men  were  to  be  seen,  and  they  had  a  villainous 
and  ugly  look,  for  which  no  one  blamed  or  quarreled  with  them. 
They  wrere  welcome  to  look  as  vicious  as  they  pleased,  so  long 
as  they  confined  themselves  to  such  pleasant  and  harmless 
demonstrations. 

We  encamped  about  a  mile  beyond  the  place,  and  just  opposite 
Freclericksburg,  on  a  hill  side ;  the  railroad  running  at  its  foot,  and 
the  since  famous  Lacy  House  between  us  and  the  river.  At  this 
house  General  King  soon  afterward  established  his  headquarters. 
Hardly  had  we  pitched  our  tents  when  it  began  to  rain  again,  and  for- 
seeing  no  certain  cessation  for  some  time  to  come,  the  boys  made  for 
a  monster  straw  stack  some  distance  across  the  fields,  and  soon  over 
a  trail  of  yellow  connecting  it  with  the  camp,  it  rapidly  walked 
away.  Never  did  a  straw  stack  do  as  much  good  as  that  one  :  and 
when  we  had  laid  our  cunning  substructure  of  sticks  through  which 
the  wrater  might  run  when  the  ditches  could  no  longer  confine  it, 
and  piled  cedar  boughs  upon  them,  and  the  straw  over  all,  and, 
rolled  in  our  blankets,  sank  into  its  yielding  embrace,  oh,  ye 
sybarites,  leaves  of  mingled  roses  and  poppies  were  nowhere :  and 
every  man  took  such  draughts  of  delicious  sleep  as  Morpheus,  but 
for  the  bitter  fruit  of  that  forbidden  tree  in  Eden,  might  never  have 
mingled. 

The  enemy  had  abandoned  Fredericksburg,  and,  in  force,  were 
supposed  to  be  not  nearer  than  twelve  miles.  Their  cavalry 


166  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

outposts  and  scouting  parties  were  still  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
city,  making  it  dangerous  to  cross  in  small  force.  Just  before  our 
arrival,  our  batteries  opened  fire  upon  the  hills  back  of  the  town, 
and  drove  the  larger  bodies  rapidly  away.  The  account  given  by 
the  numerous  contrabands  seeking  refuge  in  camp,  of  the  panic 
oc'cassioned  by  our  sudden  appearance,  was  most  ludicrous. 
"  Lawd  !  didn't  dem  fellus  go"  said  one,  "  when  you  all  come  up 
here  on  de  hill,  and  dem  shells  went  swish-swish  right  frough  de 
place!  Yah,  yah,  massa,  tought  de  debbil  comin  —  sure  —  massa  ! 
Didn't  stop  for  nuffin  'tall.  Dey  jes  trow  down  de  pack  an  run 
right  smart.  Yah,  yah,  tought  de  debbil  was  after  'em !  " 

In  the  river  lay  the  blackened  hulks  of  some  thirty  steamers 
and  sloops,  which,  with  their  cargoes,  principally  of  grain,  had  been 
burned  that  morning,  to  prevent  their  falling  into  our  hands.  Black 
clouds  of  smoke  began  to  rise  in  the  afternoon  from  the  rear  of  the 
city,  and  we  at  first  thought  they  had  also  fired  that ;  but  it  proved 
to  be  only  the  destruction  of  a  large  amount  of  cotton  and  stores 
which  they  had  not  time  to  remove. 

General  King  did  not  arrive  for  a  few  days,  and  the  current 
report  was  that  Augur,  senior  Brigadier-General  of  our  division, 
had  notified  Slaughter,  the  mayor  of  the  town,  that  unless  the  bridge 
was  repaired  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  raised  by  the  Tuesday 
following,  he  would  shell  the  town;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
rebels  had  assured  him  that  if  he  did,  they  would  shell  him  out ;  so 
that  the  dilemma,  on  either  side,  presented  a  very  perceptible  horn. 

On  the  day  after  our  arrival,  the  negroes  came  flocking  to  the 
guard  line,  with  baskets  of  eggs,  hoe-cakes,  and  other  luxuries,  and 
proved  themselves  sharp  bargainers,  doing  a  lively  business  that 
threatened  a  speedy  dearth  of  the  raw  material,  especially  as  some 
of  the  stragglers  had  already  taken  to  robbing  hen-roosts,  and 
running  the  grist-mills  for  themselves.  Nearly  every  man  in  the 
brigade  soon  had  a  darkey  waiter  at  his  heels,  and  it  was  most 
amusing  to  see  the  "style  thrown"  in  consequence.  The  only 
drawback  was  that  Cuffee  could  not  clean  a  gun  properly,  and  the 
regulations  did  not  provide  for  ebony  substitutes  on  guard  duty ; 
but  Cuffee  could  "throw  a  lively  meal,"  or  cook  one,  (to  use  the 
vulgar  Anglo-Saxon),  and  after  his  employer,  lazily  reposing  in  his 
tent,  had  devoured  it,  would  fill  his  pipe,  and  bring  a  coal  in  his 
grained  leather  hands  to  light  it.  He  also  ran  various  errands, 
filled  the  canteens  at  the  spring,  made  foraging  expeditions  after 
the  indispensable  corn-meal  for  the  inevitable  hoe-cake,  stole  eggs 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  167 

and  milk,  and  committed  various  other  troublesome  sins  for  his 
master,  not  forgetting  to  do  some  of  his  swearing,  in  a  quiet  way. 
His  expletives  were  usually  confined  to  "  Dawd  on  dat  brack  niggah, 
ye  done  stop  dat  foolin,  or  I  buck  all  de  wool  off  yer  brack  hed  !" 
or,  "  By  Gorry  !"  or  "de  Debbil !"  whom  he  also  sometimes  invokes 
as  "  de  Abbersary."  Poor  Cuffee  has,  nevertheless,  as  much 
reverence  and  simple  natural  religious  feeling,  as  comes  within  the 
possibilities  of  his  nature.  The  wild,  fervid  religious  dances,  with 
their  accompanying  chants,  sometimes  beginning  with  Genesis  and 
giving  a  complete  synopsis  of  the  leading  points  of  Bible  history 
from  Adam  to  Peter,  and  lasted  for  hours,  while  their  muscle  seemed 
inexhaustible  and  his  nose  warned  the  Caucasian  to  "stand  off," 
were  the  most  wierdly  exciting,  yet  ludicrous  performances 
imaginable. 

I  think  it  was  on  the  afternoon  of  our  arrival,  that  near  evening 
I  saw  our  band  going  toward  the  river,  headed  by  a  horseman 
bearing  our  large  storm  flag.  Curious  to  know  the  meaning  of  the 
sight  I  joined  the  group  of  followers,  and  presently  we  reached  a 
point  upon  the  -high  river  bank,  just  in  front  of  the  Lacy  House, 
(the  same  spot  from  which  Burnside  watched  and  directed  the 
bloody  battle  of  December,  1862),  and  here  they  planted  the  old 
Stars  and  Stripes. 

Inexpressibly  sad  was  the  scene  before  us.  Beneath,  on  the 
farther  shore,  like  a  place  of  the  dead,  lay  the  beleaguered  city. 
Silent  and  dim  in  the  gathering  shadows  of  evening,  its  spires 
reaching  as  in  supplication  to  a  sky  in  which  seemed  already 
gathered  the  ashen  cloud  of  its  dissolution,  while  like  Jonah  beneath 
his  withering  gourd,  loyal  justice  sat  over  against  it,  and  with 
warning  voice  proffered  the  olive  branch. 

But  listen !  a  mournful  prelude,  and  then  the  soul  freeing  notes 
of  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  stream  out  across  the  waters,  and 
wake  the  echoes  in  those  gloaming  streets  as  though  the  spirit  of 
the  glorious  past  caught  up  the  sweet  familiar  sounds,  and  rang  them 
among  the  spires  and  shouted  them  back  from  street  to  street,  and 
dwelt  with  lingering  fondness  upon  the  closing  strains,  dying  to  the 
ear  as  they  bore  them  away  among  the  distant  hills. 

Oh!   long  may  that  Star  Spangled  Banner  yet  wave. 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

And  then  when  all  was  hushed,  and  we  waited  as  for  a  reply,  it 
came :  a  mocking  laugh  from  a  source  unseen  as  that  of  the  echoes 
came  up  from  the  shadows.  But  on  the  sands,  down  by  the  river's 


168  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

brink,  stood  two  figures,  a  woman  holding  a  little  boy  by  the  hand, 
and  both  dressed  in  black.  Her  arm  was  raised  towards  us,  and 
something  white  fluttered  in  the  night  wind  above  her  head.  They 
were  the  only  human  things  we  saw,  and  when  we  went  away  they 
were  still  there  by  the  water's  edge. 

Upon  the  very  spot  where  we  planted  the  rejected  flag  on  that 
day,  stood  General  Burnside  eight  months  after,  and  gave  the 
orders  that  concentred  the  fire  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
cannon  upon  that  doomed  city. 

The  rain  continued  until  Saturday,  April  26th,  with  a  few 
intervals  of  short  duration,  but  for  the  first  three  days  it  was  almost 
continuous.  On  the  morning  of  the  22d  it  cleared  up  long  enough 
to  enable  us  to  clean  our  arms,  and  better  the  condition  of  our  camp 
a  little.  On  the  24th  it  changed  to  snow  and  rain,  during  which 
came  the  welcome  mail,  and  the  almost-as-welcome  paymaster ;  the 
pay-rolls  were  signed.  That  day  we  welcomed  the  advent  of  an  old 
comrade,  Arnold  Harris,  who  was  a  private  in  "  B  "  Company  until 
he  left  the  regiment  at  Runyon  for  a  position  in  the  navy.  He  was 
now  master  of  the  gunboat  Island  Belle,  and  had  come  up  the  river 
with  a  fleet  of  canal  boats,  to  be  used  as  pontoons  in  the  construction 
of  a  strong  temporary  bridge  at  this  point.  His  promotion  had 
been  rapid,  and  enjoying  the  confidence  of  his  superiors,  he  already 
held  a  position  of  important  responsibility.  His  after  history  was 
one  of  which  his  old  regiment  were  justly  proud.  * 


*  The  following  tribute  to  the  valuable  services  of  the  young  hero,  appeared  in  the  Buffalo 
Express,  in  January,  1863  : 

ADVENTURES  OF  A  BUFFALONIAN  IN  DIXIE.— The  history  of  the  war  can  furnish  nothing 
bolder  or  more  remarkable  in  the  way  of  adventure  than  belongs  to  the  experience  of  a  young  man, 
Arnold  Harris,  from  this  city,  who  left  here  in  -May,  1861,  as  a  private  in  the  Twenty-First 
Regiment,  and  now  wears  the  insignia  of  a  Lieutenant  in  the  U.  S.  Navy.  Lieutenant  Harris  was 
engaged  upon  the  lakes  when  the  rebellion  broke  out.  Arriving  in  Buffalo  the  day  of  the  departure 
of  the  Twenty-First,  he  came  up  town  to  witness  the  scene,  recognized  some  acquaintances  in  the 
ranks  of  the  regiment,  stepped  to  their  side,  and  became  their  comrade  in  an  instant,  marching  to 
the  depot,  accompanying  them  to  Elmira  and  there  enlisting.  Not  long  after  the  arrival  of  the 
Twenty-First  on  the  Potomac,  he  got  transferred  to  the  naval  service,  and  was  soon  placed  in 
command  of  the  Island  Belle,  of  the  Potomac  Flotilla.  In  this  situation  he  performed  important 
services  for  several  months,  and  distinguished  himself  by  his  vigilance  in  maintaining  the  blockade 
.if  the  river  against  smugglers  from  Maryland.  <  >ne  of  his  most  daring  exploits,  in  landing  at 
Matthias  Point,  surprising  the  rebel  pickets  and  destroying  property  of  the  enemy,  we  mentioned 
at  the  time.  During  this  period,  Lieutenant  Harris  made  application  for  permission  to  undertake  a 
spying  trip  into  Virginia,  to  get  information  concerning  the  rebel  batteries  on  the  Potomac.  The 
offer  was  declined,  but  its  boldness  was  not  forgotten  at  the  Navy  Department.  A  few  months  after 
the  adventurous  Lieutenant  lost  his  little  "unboat,  in  or  about  James  River,  we  believe,  and  visited 
the  Department  to  obtain  another  command.  Recollecting  his  previous  offer,  the  Secretary  proposed 
to  him  a  most  hazardous  mission  to  Richmond,  having  for  its  object  the  frustration  of  the  projects 
of  George  N.  Sanders,  who  had  then  just  secureil  contracts  from  the  rebel  government,  for  a  navy 
to  be  built  in  England. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  169 

On  the  25th  we  received  pay  for  the  two  months  ending 
March  ist. 

Next  day  it  cleared  up,  and  the  day  following-  (Sunday,  April 
27th),  was  bright  and  appropriately  beautiful.  The  brigade 
assembled  for  services  together,  and  again  General  Patrick's  warning 
voice  was  raised  in  exhortation.  He  spoke  simply  and  powerfully 
of  the  claims  of  morality  and  religion,  and  cited  noble  instances  in 
proof  of  the  fact  that  they  were  not  incompatible  with  the  qualities 
necessary  to  a  good  soldier ;  among  which  instances  he  drew  a 
picture  of  the  Christian  hero,  Havelock,  praying  on  the  eve  of  battle. 
However  they  might  regard  the  man,  his  words  hushed  and  awed 
all  who  heard ;  and  that  straight  proud  form,  with  inspired  bearing, 
the  bared  head  with  its  iron-gray  locks  tossing  in  the  wind,  the 
gleaming  eye,  burning  with  fervor,  and  the  deep,  impressive  voice, 
with  its  slow  and  clear  enunciation,  might  have  belonged  to  John 
the  Baptist  in  the  wilderness,  or  to  Peter  the  Hermit,  or  even  to  his 
inspired  namesake,  the  patron  saint  of  Erin. 

That  afternoon,  while  all  was  quiet  in  camp,  most  of  the  men 
being  asleep,  or  writing,  or  otherwise  employed  in  their  tents,  some 
one  raised  the  cry,  "  Wadsworth's  coming  ! "  and  instantly  the  camp 
woke  up  much  as  they  would  have  done  had  the  approach  of  Little 
Mac  himself  been  announced  instead.  "  Where  ?  "  said  everybody  at 
once,  and  the  next  minute,  bare-headed,  without  jackets,  or  just  as 
they  happened  to  be  at  the  moment,  the  whole  brigade  were  running 


He  accepted  the  perilous  mission,  and  soon  made  his  way  to  the  Confederate  capital.  Without 
any  disguise  of  name  or  person,  he  succeeded  in  acquiring  the  confidence  of  the  rebel  authorities, 
and  established  himself  on  intimate  terms  with  several  of  the  most  important  officials.  His  situation, 
however,  was  dangerous  in  the  extreme,  and  nothing  but  consummate  coolness  and  adroit  conduct 
enabled  him  to  escape.  Once  he  was  arrested,  and  confined  in  Castle  Thunder  for  seventeen  days. 
Two  Marylanders  had  recognized  his  name  as  that  of  the  former  commander  of  the  Island  Belle, 
and  the  hero  of  the  exploit  at  Matthias  Point.  When  brought  to  trial  he  coolly  acknowledged  the 
correctness  of  the  identification,  and  claimed  to  have  done  the  Confederacy  more  service  while 
holding  a  command  in  the  Federal  Navy  than  he  could  possibly  have  done  by  openly  joining  the 
cause  at  an  earlier  day.  His  audacity  triumphed  —  all  suspicion  was  overcome,  and  he  not  only 
obtained  an  acquittal,  but  continued  to  enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  rebel  authorities  ;  or,  rather,  of 
all  but  Benjamin,  who  was  suspicious  of  him  throughout. 

Shortly  after  his  discharge  from  Castle  Thunder,  Sanders  arrived  from  Europe,  and  the  adroit 
agent  soon  found  means  to  get  himself  engaged  in  the  enterprises  of  that  busy  personage.  Sanders 
having  perfected  his  arrangements  with  Jeff.  &  Company,  was  to  return  to  England  with  money 
and  documents  necessary  to  the  carrying  out  of  his  Anglo-Rebel  Navy  schemes.  His  son,  Reid 
Sanders,  was  to  accompany  him,  and  so,  as  he  had  contrived,  was  our  friend  Harris.  The  aim  of 
the  latter  was  to  secure  Sanders'  mail.  He  succeeded  in  having  it  arranged  that  George,  with  his 
friends,  should  proceed  by  way  of  Matamoras  to  Halifax,  while  Reid  Sanders  and  he,  with  the 
documents  and  dispatches  to  be  taken,  were  to  run  the  blockade  at  Charleston,  and  get  to  Halifax  by 
way  of  Nassau.  In  accordance  with  this  plan,  Sanders  junior  and  Harris  proceeded  to  Charleston, 
and  purchased  a  yacht,  which,  by  way  of  speculation,  they  loaded  with  turpentine,  and  started  gaily 


170  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

down  the  hill  like  mad  to  meet  him,  and  swarmed  around  him,  eager 
to  touch  his  hand.  He  leaned  from  his  horse,  shaking  the  hands  of 
his  boys,  the  tears  streaming  down  his  furrowed  cheeks,  and  unable 
to  speak  an  audible  word.  It  was  an  affecting  scene ;  but  it  might 
have  occurred  to  a  sober  looker-on  that  we  were  much  like  spoiled 
children,  running  to  the  arms  of  an  affectionate  parent  for  sympathy 
in  the  trials  of  our  first  experience  at  school,  denouncing  the 
discipline  that  was  making  men  of  us,  and  regretting  the  gentle 
usage  of  a  less  severe  taskmaster. 

In  the  midst  of  the  cheering  of  the  whole  brigade,  our  band, 
who  had  not  forgotten  their  instruments  in  the  rush,  struck  up 
"  Hail  to  the  Chief,"  and  when  he  finally  turned  to  depart,  they 
bade  him  good  bye  in  a  melodious  recall  of  "  the  days  of  auld  lang 
syne,"  which  brought  auld  acquaintance  to  the  mind;"  and  tears  to 
the  eyes  of  more  than  one. 

Soon  after  this,  General  McDowell,  who  had  arrived  during 
the  clay,  was  seen  approaching  with  his  staff.  Eager  to  honor  him 
also,  we  gathered  on  the  road  and  cheered  as  he  came  up  ;  but  his 
young  and  restive  horse  took  fright,  and  it  was  not  until  a  severe 
effort  on  the  part  of  his  rider  curbed  down  his  rampant  tendencies, 
that  he  found  time  to  touch  his  cap  in  return. 

On  Monday,  April  28th,  we  removed  our  camp  half  a  mile 
farther  down,  and  about  a  mile  back  from  the  river.  This  move 
was  made  to  bring  us  nearer  a  good  drill  ground.  In  conjunction 
with  that  of  General  Banks,  our  line  formed  a  complete  defence  for 
the  capitol,  extending  from  Fredericksburg  to  Gordonsville,  a 
distance  of  nearly  forty-five  miles,  and  in  which  position  we  expected 


out,  one  pleasant  evening  in  January  last,  to  slip  through  the  blockading  fleet,  and  make  for  Nassau. 
Great  interest  was  taken  in  the  adventurous  enterprise,  and  before  leaving  the  daring  voyagers  were 
entertained  at  a  dinner  with  Beauregard  and  the  leading  celebrities  of  the  city. 

Meantime,  Harris  had  succeeded  in  communicating  with  one  of  the  vessels  of  the  outside  fleet 
and  putting  its  commander  upon  the  watch.  The  yacht  as  she  ran  out  of  the  harbor  was  speedily 
detected,  and  subjected  to  a  cannonade  which  frightened  Sanders  out  of  his  wits,  and  made  him 
eager  to  surrender.  The  mail  bag,  heavily  weighted  with  iron,  was  thrown  overboard  ;  but  Harris 
had  previously  abstracted  from  it  a  portmanteau  containing  the  important  dispatches  and  documents, 
substituting  in  its  stead  his  own,  which  happened,  as  a  remarkable  coincidence,,  of  course,  to  be 
its  exact  counterpart. 

The  capture  of  Reid  Sanders  with  his  dispatches,  last  winter,  created  no  small  sensation  at  the 
time,  and  will  be  well  remembered.  But  how  it  came  about  has  never,  we  believe,  been  told  before. 
Our  readers  will  agree  with  us,  we  think,  that  few  personal  undertakings  of  the  war  have  been  more 
audaciously  conceived,  or  more  cleverly  executed.  As  Buffalonians,  we  relate  the  narrative  of  this 
most  extraordinary  adventure  with  no  small  pride. 

Lieutenant  Harris  was  in  town  yesterday,  making  a  flying  visit  to  his  friends.  He  left,  we 
believe,  last  evening.  He  has  another  mission,  of  still  greater  importance,  we  suspect,  upon  his 
hands. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  iyi 

to  await  the  result  of  the  moves  on  McClellan's  corner  of  the 
checker-board.  Our  new  camp  was  in  the  woods,  a  clean  nice  place 
for  a  pic-nic  of  uncertain  limit,  and  here  we  quickly  surrounded 
ourselves  with  all  necessary  improvements  and  possible  luxuries. 
The  cedar  boughs  made  deep  soft  beds,  the  tents  were  raised  upon 
logs,  rustic  seats  stood  in  cozy  nooks  among  the  trees,  and 
everything  was  just  as  pleasant  as  blooming  early  summer,  and 
balmy,  delightful  weather  could  make  it. 

Just  to  our  left,  beside  a  field  of  wheat  that  would  have 
gladdened  the  heart  of  a  Genesee  Valley  farmer,  was  a  splendid 
drill  and  parade  ground  of  perhaps  twenty  acres.  Beyond  this  a 
wood,  through  which,  at  the  bottom  of  a  most  romantic  glen,  ran  a 
spring-fed  stream  which  supplied  the  camp  with  water.  Along  this 
ran  the  line  of  the  brigade  guard,  and  there,  guard  duty  was  for 
once  pleasant,  only  that  the  birds,  and  the  trees,  and  the  enchanting 
nooks  and  corners,  and  delightful  glades  and  dells,  with  their 
charming  display  of  new  luxuriant  shrubbery,  were  apt  to  beguile 
the  thoughts  and  eyes  of  the  sentinel,  and  make  him  the  unconscious 
and  almost  innocent  accessory  of  much  guard-running,  by  the 
irrepressible  fellows  whose  love  of  nature's  beauties  would  not 
admit  of  their  being  confined  to  the  limits  of  the  brigade. 

In  front,  about  half  a  mile  away,  the  high  ground  on  which  lay 
our  brigade  terminated  in  a  bluff;  here,  too,  the  woods  ended,  and 
here  was  a  splendid  western  view,  from  which  the  glories  of  sunset, 
and  the  city  and  the  country  round  about,  rich  in  the  tints  lavished 
from  its  abundance,  feasted  our  eyes  when  the  evening  parade  was 
over,  and  the  mournful  cry  of  the  whip-poor-will,  with  the 
monotonous  songs  of  the  cicada  and  the  katydid,  made  the  woods 
vocal. 

In  this  delightful  place  we  lay  for  ten  days,  during  which  the 
weather  was  pleasant,  with  now  and  then  a  slight  fall  of  rain,  just 
enough  to  freshen  the  air  without  occasioning  any  positive  discomfort. 
While  here,  Lieutenants  Morse  and  Calkins  resigned  their 
commissions. 

On  Thursday,  May  8th,  our  brigade  again  struck  tents,  and 
moved  to  the  river  bank,  directly  opposite  the  city,  and  a  short 
distance  below  the  Lacy  House.  Here  our  regiment  with  the  2oth 
and  35th  encamped,  while  the  23d  crossed  the  river  upon  the  bridge 
of  canal  boats.  That  night,  soon  after  dark,  we  were  turned  out 
for  an  inspection  of  arms  and  a  fresh  supply  of  cartridges,  as  the 


172  CHRONICLES     OF     THP: 

enemy  were  reported  to  be  approaching   in   force  ;   but   no   further 
alarm  disturbed  our  night's  repose. 

Along  the  river,  in  front,  and  for  a  mile  below,  lay  the  charred 
hulks  of  the  steamers,  and  other  river  craft,  burned  on  the  night  of 
our  arrival.  The  amount  of  property  destroyed  must  have  been 
very  large,  and  much  of  it  belonged  to  professedly  loyal  men.  The 
canal  boats,  anchored  side  by  side,  with  timbers  laid  across,  and 
strongly  planked,  made  a  very  substantial  bridge,  and  our  pontoon 
train  having  arrived,  another  soon  connected  the  shores  a  mile 
above.  No  attempt  had  been  made  to  rebuild  the  large  bridge, 
just  above  the  island,  but  a  party  of  engineers  with  a  strong  working 
force,  had  nearly  completed  a  trellis  upon  the  place  of  the  railroad 
bridge,  destroyed  by  the  rebels. 

Garrett  B.  Lockwood,  a  private  in  Company  "  B,"  died  on  the 
night  of  the  gth,  of  typhoid  fever.  He  was  a  good  soldier,  and  his 
death  cast  a  gloom  over  the  whole  camp.  Funeral  services  were 
held  in  camp,  and  then  the  body,  in  charge  of  his  brother,  a  member 
of  Company  "  I,"  was  sent  to  his  home  in  Buffalo. 

This  was  the  first  death  occurring  in  camp  since  leaving  Upton 
Hill. 

"  Bould  Soger "  thus  meditates  upon  the  succeeding  day, 
which  we  all  marked  as  the  first  anniversary  of  our  departure  from 
Buffalo  : 

May.  The  world's  enough.  Lovely  always,  like  the  heroine  of  every  romance. 
May  is  the  blushing  girl  of  the  twelve  children  of  the  year.  Inspired  must  the  artist 
be,  who  "adds  another  tint  unto  the  rainbow."  May!  and  he  who  cannot  image 
beauty  from  the  simple  word,  can  surely  find  no  pleasure  in  human  penciling  of 
divine  productions.  So  I  say — May, —  and  that's  the  picture.  It  was  a  bright,  sunny 
May  day,  and  something  moves  the  very  heart  of  the  city.  Men  pace  along  the 
walks,  and  their  step  and  look  seem  to  say  —  "We'll  teach  the  rascals."  They 
have  the  air  of  men  who  have  submitted  long  to  a  wrong — have  been  browbeaten  — 
and  have  at  last  awoke  to  find  their  country's  manhood  lost,  and  their  own,  latent, 
—  slumbering.  Men  in  military  dress  are  hurrying  to  the  rendezvous.  Boys  have 
caught  the  spirit  of  the  men.  Fair  women,  too,  on  Main  street — bouquets  in  the 
mass  of  humanity  —  add  beauty  to  the  scene;  and  beauty  is  an  immense  motive; 
it  has  overthrown  empires  and  established  them  ;  has  beaten  armies,  and  given  them 
victory.  A  spoon  in  the  glass  eddies  the  water  to  the  right,  stems  the  current,  and 
whirls  it  to  the  left.  Beauty,  in  the  goblet  of  the  world's  affairs,  plays  its  part  with 
the  fickleness  of  a  coquette.  But  it  is  not  the  cause  of  this  gathering.  Flags  wave 
from  the  shipping  and  upon  the  house-tops.  Drums  roll,  men  fall  quickly  in  and 
move  through  the  streets.  A  pause  upon  the  square,  and  fair  hands  place  in  strong 
arms  the  emblem  of  a  nation's  life.  Down  Main  street,  and  men  cheer  and  fair 
women  wave  a  farewell.  Each  step  is  firm  and  proud,  patriotism  fills,  enthusiasm 
thrills  every  heart ;  and  even  as  with  proud  steps  and  high  hopes  we  depart,  our 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  173 

thoughts  leap  forward  to  that  coming  glorious  day,  when,  our  duty  done,  we  shall 
march  up  Main  street,  and  be  welcomed  back  with  the  same  spirit  that  cheered  us 
when  we  went  forth.  And  that  was  a  lovely  May  day,  and  this  is  its  mate.  And 
what  one  of  the  many  of  us  thought  as  we  marched  down  Main  street,  that  he 
might  not  be  one  of  those  who,  two  years  hence,  should  march  up  the  same  broad 
avenue  ?  Not  one ;  and  yet  this  bright  May  day  a  still  hushed  group  gathers 
upon  the  parade.  The  muffled  drum-roll  —  the  slow,  solemn,  wailing  dirge — the 
drooping  colors  —  the  reversed  arms  —  and  slowly,  sadly,  tearfully,  another  comrade 
is  borne  from  our  midst.  This  is  to-day's  May  day.  Down  Main  street,  and  proudly 
floated  the  flag  o'er  his  head, —  up  Main  street  and  the  folds  shroud  the  soldier's 
form.  And  how  many  more  ?  He  who  falls,  makes  not  alone  the  sacrifice. 
There  are  those  at  home, — and  yet  I  wonder  at  the  depth  of  the  love  those  who  have 
been  stricken  bear  to  the  cause  in  which  their  loved  ones  have  fallen.  The  Republic 
produces  Spartan  mothers.  Several  instances  have  come  under  my  observation  where 
mothers  have  lost  sons,  and  only  sons,  and,  almost  broken-hearted,  have  yet  wished 
they  had  others  to  fill  their  places. 

In  one  of  my  letters  I  spoke  of  a  charge  made  by  the  Ira  Harris  Light  Cavalry 
before  Falmouth,  the  day  prior  to  our  arrival.  Last  summer,  one  of  our  officers  in 
the  Georgetown  Hospital  made  the  acquaintance  of  an  officer  in  the  cavalry 
mentioned,  and,  thrown  thus  together,  the  acquaintance  soon  ripened  into  intimacy. 
I  mention  no  names,  because  I  might  by  so  doing  wound  a  heart  heavy  enough 

already.""  Lieutenant  -  was  a  most  agreeable   companion.     He  had  traveled 

much,  and  possessesed  a  fund  of  story  and  of  anecdote.  Manly  and  generous,  he 
made  friends  fast,  and  fast  friends.  At  the  battle  of  Falmouth  he  was  killed.  With 
uplifted  sword,  swiftly  descending  upon  the  head  of  a  rebel  foe,  a  ball  pierced  him, 
and  all  was  over.  The  Captain  of  his  company  communicated  the  mournful 
intelligence  to  his  widowed  mother,  and  she,  in  responding  to  his  letter,  gave  this 
reply :  "  Had  I  another  son  to  fill  his  place,  and  assist  in  preserving  our  glorious 
Union,  I  would  give  him  to  you  with  a  mother's  blessing."  Words  that  should  live 
forever.  Is  there  no  patriotism  in  the  land  !  Did  the  women  of  the  Revolution  have 
more  of  it  ?  Think  of  this,  ye  mothers  who  have  forgotten  your  duty  to  your  country 
in  the  anxiety  of  a  mother's  love,  and  have  pleaded  with  your  sons  that  they  would 
not  go  to  the  war.  Let  us  thank  Heaven  that  you  are  the  exception. 

The  last  death  before  our  advance  on  Centreville,  was  that  of 
James  Wilson,  of  Company  "  K,"  who  died  of  congestion  of  the 
lungs,  March  4th,  1862. 

On  the  I3th  of  the  same  month,  George  A.  Hamlin,  of  Company 
"  E,"  died  at  Falls  Church  Hospital. 

Abner  Chase,  of"  D,"  died  of  paralysis,  occasioned  by  exposure 
at  Camp  Misery,  at  Alexandria,  April  2d,  1862 ;  and  Franklin 
Steiver,  of"  E,"  died  in  hospital  at  the  same  place,  April  lyth. 

These  four  men  were  all  known  as  good  soldiers,  and  their 
record  deserves  to  rank  among  the  best,  as  they  were  of  the  first 
who  met  death  upon  the  soil  they  went  to  save. 


174  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

Lieut.-Colonel  Root*  left  us  on  the  evening  of  May  gth,  to  take 
command  of  his  new  regiment,  the  94th  N.  Y.  V.,  formerly  Colonel 
Viele's.  On  the  same  day,  Sergeant  Harry  Wells,  of"  C,"  received 
a  Lieutenant's  commission  in  the  y8th  N.  Y.  V.  Harry  being 
pre-eminently  a  good  fellow  and  a  dutiful  soldier,  we  were  all  sorry 
to  lose  him. 

Next  day,  at  evening,  we  quietly  crossed  the  river,  and 
encamped  back  of  the  town,  just  in  rear  of  a  high  wooded  ridge,  the 
stream  known  as  "Hazel  Run"  cutting  our  camp  short  off  on  the 
right,  and  on  our  left,  the  embankment  of  an  unfinished  railroad  ; 
passing  through  the  bluff  in  front,  and  joined  by  the  telegraph  road 
in  our  rear.  "  Hazel  Dell "  was,  by  nature,  a  beautiful  spot,  but, 
unfortunately  for  us,  it  had  been  used  by  the  rebel  cavalry  through 
the  preceding  winter  as  a  place  of  deposit  for  the  carcasses  of  their 
defunct  Rosinantes,  and  the  atmosphere  was  rank  in  consequence. 
Next  morning  we  labored  to  abate  the  nuisance,  and  succeeded  in 
putting  it  at  least  out  of  sight.  But  the  Dell  had  lost  its  good  name, 
and  was  always  afterward  known  to  us  as  "  Horse  Heaven." 

I  have  another  letter,  written  by  "  Bould  Soger  "  to  the  Express 
on  the  23rd  of  May,  which  cannot  fail  to  interest  the  reader : 

We  moved  to  the  east  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  in  an  open  field  we 
pitched  our  tents.  The  most  beautiful  camping  ground  we*  have  had.  We  could 
look  down  upon  the  broad  river,  upon  the  city  on  its  opposite  shore,  and,  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  reach,  over  the  side  hills  all  clothed  with  the  fresh  green  of  spring. 
This  is  a  beautiful  valley,  this  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  all  that  it  requires  are  the 
strong  arms  and  the  pure  morals  of  the  East.  A  breaking-up  of  almost  boundless 
estates  into  small  farms  would  make  this  valley  ihe  garden  of  Virginia. 

I  am  not  sure  but  this  army  of  Yankees  will  be  to  Virginia  what  the  system  of 
the  Gracchi  would  have  been  to  Rome,  had  it  been  successfully  carried  out.  We 
pitched  our  tents,  tattoo  beat,  and  we  turned  in ;  but  only  to  be  turned  out  for  an 
inspection  of  arms.  The  enemy  are  in  force  a  short  distance  from  our  lines  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  we  must  have  an  inspection ;  so  we  have  it,  turn  in 
again,  and  sleep  soundly  until  morning.  We  have  a  beautiful  camping  ground,  and 
from  that  fact  I  infer  we'll  soon  move.  So  we  do.  On  the  loth  we  again  pack  up, 
and  under  cover  of  the  night  our  brigade  moves  over  the  river,  and  through  the  town, 
to  a  point  where  a  proposed  railroad  forms  a  junction  with  the  Telegraph  road.  One 
would  hardly  think  two  thousand  men  are  marching  through  the  city,  so  quietly 
they  move  —  probably  for  a  purpose  —  and  General  Patrick  says  he  is  thankful  he  has 
a  brigade  composed  of  men  who  know  how  to  march.  We  have  not  left  our  camp 
before  another  brigade  moves  up,  and  the  tents  are  pitched  where  ours  stood.  In  the 
morning  the  scene  remains  unchanged,  and  we  are  snug  out  of  sight,  under  the 


*The  subsequent  career  of  this  gallant  officer  is  fully  set  forth  in  the  biographical  department  of 
this  work,  and  will  be  found  well  worth  reading. 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  175 

railroad  grade,  with  a  ravine  covered  with  wood  upon  our  right,  and  a  river  and 
mill-pond  in  the  rear.  We  are  hid  from  the  sight  of  the  rebels  beyond  our  lines,  and 
where  our  camp  stood  the  day  before  there  is  still  a  camp,  the  same  to  all 
appearances. 

On  Sunday,  the  I  ith,  the  enemy  appear  in  force  on  the  Bowling  Green  road,  and 
we  stand  to  our  arms  a  couple  of  hours.  From  the  i  ith  until  yesterday,  drills,  outpost 
and  guard  duty.  Yesterday  we  moved  our  camp  over  the  river  in  our  rear,  to  the 
hill  beyond,  and  are  now  encamped  on  a  beautiful  spot,  near  the  plank  road,  and  but 
a  short  distance  from  the  city.  In  company  with  a  boon .  comrade,  I  visited 
Fredericksburg,  and  passed  a  good  portion  of  one  day  in  looking  about  the  place,  and 
conversing  with  such  of  its  inhabitants  as  seemed  inclined  to  commune  with  one  who 
is  proud  to  number  himself  with  that  class  of  persons,  who,  in  the  polite  converse  of 
Southern  rights,  are  known  as  "  1) —  — d  Yankees."  I  cannot  give  you  the  history 
of  Fredericksburg,  by  whom  and  how  it  was  settled,  the  statistics  of  its  trade  and 
commerce,  the  count  of  its  negroes,  or  the  number  of  whites ;  neither  would  I,  if  I 
could.  Enough,  that  the  detested  Yankees,  at  the  present  time,  are  masters  of  its 
fate,  and  control  its  destinies. 

Last  June  I  visited  Alexandria,  and  there  were  but  one  or  two  stores  open  on 
King  street.  Four  months  later,  I  again  visited  that  city,  and  not  a  store  was  vacant. 
The  Yankees  were  there,  and  where  they  go,  follow  trade,  commerce,  and  prosperity. 
The  same  energetic  people  are  fast  making  this  city  a  thriving,  bustling  mart.  Here 
is  a  steam  engine  upon  the  sidewalk,  and  half-a-dozen  soldiers,  at  their  old  trade, 
with  their  leather  aprons,  and  uprolled  sleeves,  are  oiling,  and  rubbing,  and  in  a  few 
<lays  that  iron  horse  will  be  puffing  forth  the  praises  of  Yankee  enterprise.  Enter 
Scott's  machine  shop, 'before  which  the  engine  stands;  everything  is  in  motion; 
click-click,  says  the  machinery;  hammers  descend  upon  the  iron,  and  rise  and  fall 
again.  I  think  I  am  standing  before  the  door  of  one  of  our  workshops.  The  soldier 
machinists  are  at  the  drill  they  like.  At  the  depot  here  is  another  crowd  of  the 
mud-sills,  and  pick  and  shovel  are  leveling  off  and  filling  up,  and  in  a  few  days  the 
track  will  be  laid,  and  the  engine  at  the  shop  will  be  upon  it.  Up  the  track  to  the 
river  bank,  and  there  is  a  tressle  railroad  bridge  nearly  completed.  It  is  sixty  feet 
above  the  water,  and  between  five  and  six  hundred  feet  in  length. 

"When  did  you  commence  work,  sir?" 

"  A  week  ago  Saturday,  and  this  is  Monday." 

"When  will  the  cars  run  over?" 

"  To-night,  sir." 

"  Indeed  !  I  am  incredulous.  There  are  yet  immense  timbers  to  be  placed,  plank 
to  be  arranged  and  nailed,  and  track  to  be  laid." 

"  How  long  did  you  say  it  would  take  you  to  build  the  bridge?"  asked  an  old 
lady  of  one  of  the  officers  engaged  upon  the  work. 

"  About  a  week,  mum." 

"  About  a  week  !     Why,  it  took  a  year  to  build  that  bridge." 

"Yes,  mum,  I  know;  but  we  are  in  a  hurry;  can't  stop;  must  have  the  engine 
over  in  a  week,  mum." 

And  off  to  his  work  steps  the  officer,  leaving  the  old  lady  to  wonder  what  manner 
of  people  this  is  that  condense  the  work  of  a  year  into  a  week,  and  build  railroad 
bridges  across  broad  rivers  for  the  conservatives  of  a  century  past  to  wonder  at.  The 


176  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Yankees  are  here  —  here  with  their  broad  chests,  brawny  arms,  progressive  ideas,  the 
enemies  of  anarchy,  the  preservers  of  order.  Ye  petty  princes  of  the  South,  owners 
of  broad  estates,  masters  of  cringing  serfs,  your  masters  are  here.  Struggle  as  you 
may  against  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  age,  you  are  in  the  swift  current,  as  chips  in 
the  rapids  of  Niagara.  To  apply  a  passage  of  the  Scriptures  to  Virginia,  "  By  the 
sweat  of  your  brow  shall  you  earn  your  —  hoe-cake."  "  Slavery,"  says  your 
Vice-President  Stephens,  "is  the  corner-stone"  of  the  Confederate  fabric.  That 
corner-stone  is  moving  —  moving  from  its  place  in  the  structure;  and  before  many 
generations,  at  the  most,  have  passed  away,  the  keenest  hunter  of  things  ancient  will 
find  only  its  history.  It  matters  not  what  becomes  of  you.  You  are  in  the  way  of  the 
nation,  and  you  must  step  but.  You  may  be  princes,  lords,  of  the  first  families, 
knightly,  chivalrous,  and  all  that  sort  of  nonsense ;  but, 

"  Princes  and  lords  may  flourish,  or  may  fade, 
A  breath  can  make  them,  as  a  breath  hath  made ; 
But  a  bold  yeomanry,  their  country's  pride, 
When  once  destroyed,  can  never  be  supplied." 

MAY  25111,  1862. 

Picket  duty :  tiresome  it  is,  this  keeping  your  harness  on  for  twenty-four  hours, 
watching  and  waiting  for  the  relief.  And  yet  there  is  something  grand  about  it. 
Upon  your  vigilance  depends  perhaps  the  success  of  the  cause.  A  surprise,  and  all 
might  be  lost.  I  say  there  is  something  grand  in  the  feeling,  that  thousands  of  men 
are  leaning  upon  you  for  protection,  or  rather  for  warning  of  coming  danger.  And 
there  is,  too,  a  very  fever  of  excitement  about  it.  Danger  seen  and  understood,  is 
stripped  of  half  its  terrors;  unseen  and  uncertain,  the  imagination  conjures  up 
impossible  horrors,  makes  bomb-shells  of  buck-shot,  an  hundred  men  from  one, 
signals  from  the  flash  of  the  fire-fly,  an  army's  advance  from  the  movements  of  the 
noiselings  of  (he  night.  But  I  have  not  now  the  space  to  fully  describe  the  feelings 
of  a  man  on  picket.  Some  time  when  we  are  on  that  detail,  and  I  am  not  on  post, 
I'll  write  a  letter  on  outpost  duty.  About  five  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon  a  great 
smoke  was  seen  in  the  rebel  lines,  and  this  morning  the  birds  have  flown,  so  we 
tramp  back  to  camp,  find  everybody  excited,  listen  to  all  sorts  of  rumors,  and  after 
deliberating  profoundly  on  what  we  have  heard,  come  to  the  conclusion  that  we  knew 
it  all  before,  we  "  thought  so,"  our  generals  "ought  to  have  known,"  and  ever  since 
such  and  such  a  thing  occurred  we  never  had  the  least  confidence  in  General  —  — . 
He  is  a  regular  officer,  and  has  spent  years  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  art  of 
war,  and  therefore  knows  nothing  about  it.  I  have  heard  this  from  volunteer  officers, 
and  it  is  simply  asserting  that  a  man  who  has  run  an  engine  all  his  life,  cannot  work 
it  better  than  one  who  never  saw  the  iron  horse.  On  the  other  hand,  when  Gen. 
Seymour  (then  Captain)  of  Fort  Sumter,  said  to  me  that  he  did  not  see  a  regular  in 
Fort  Runyan  after  Bull  Run,  I  knew  from  actual  conversation  with  panic  stricken 
soldiers  of  the  class  named,  that  Capt.  Seymour  had  on  his  West  Point  blinders. 

There  is  a  rumor  that  twenty  thousand  rebels  have  got  into  our  rear,  that  they 
are  between  this  place  and  Catlett's  Station,  that  Banks  has  been  defeated,  that  this 
corps  is  to  take  the  back  track,  that  Gen.  Shields,  who  arrived  here  a  few  days  since, 
is  moving  towards  Catlett's,  that  the  rebel  force  in  our  front  is  on  the  way  to 
Richmond,  that  our  brigade  is  to  move  immediately,  and  in  the  midst  of  these  rumors 
there  comes  a  sound  like  the  roar  of  a  mortar.  A  magazine,  left  here  by  the  rebels, 
has  blown  up  —  one  man  of  the  23d  New  York  is  killed.  I  know  not  the  cause  of 


* 
TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  177 

the  explosion,  but  very  naturally  one  attributes  it  to  some  devilish  device  of  the  rebels. 
There  comes  an  order  for  three  days'  rations,  and  three  days'  rations  it  is.  Here 
comes  word  that  some  other  brigade  has  gone  where  we  were  to  go,  and  we  are  much 
obliged  to  the  other  brigade;  for  we  did  picket  duty  last  night,  and  don't  care  very 
much  about  marching  to-night.  1  have  just  seen  a, gentleman  who  came  from  Acquia 
Creek,  this  afternoon,  and  he  states  that  eleven  regiments  from  this  point  had  arrived 
there,  and  more  waiting  for  transportation.  The  94th,  Col.  Root,  was  one  of  the 
number.  I  know  not  whether  they  go  up  or  down  the  river.  Perhaps  it  will  be 
demonstrated  in  a  few  days  that  if  there  was  any  interference  in  Gen.  McClellan's 
plans,  it  was  a  most  wise  policv.  Was  there  not  good  cause  to  fear  a  dash  at 
Washington.  The  movements  of  the  next  few  clays  may  answer  that  question.  It 
would  indeed  be  strange,  if  while  we  are  besieging  Richmond,  a  rebel  army  should 
appear  before  the  gates  of  our  own  Capital.  Hut  halt, 

BOULD  SOGER. 

Now  for  our  own  resume  of  the  details  not  mentioned  in  the 
foregoing. 

Gen.  Patrick  had  been  appointed  military  governor  of 
Fredericksburg. 

Sunday  afternoon,  May  nth,  our  pickets  were  driven  in,  and 
the  enemy  reported  to  be  close  upon  us.  Our  line  of  battle  was 
quickly  formed  upon  the  railroad,  to  await  the  approach  of  the  foe, 
whose  muskets  we  could  plainly  hear  at  intervals  in  the  distance. 
Companies  "  B  "  and  "I"  were  detached  as  skirmishers,  and  deployed 
across  the  fields  up  the  telegraph  road,  and  the  Ira  Harris  Cavalry 
hurried  to  the  front.  The  Twentieth  were  in  line,  the  Twenty-Third 
and  Thirty-Fifth  deployed  upon  the  left,  and  thus  we  stood  to  our 
arms  for  about  half  an  hour.  A  squadron  of  rebel  cavalry  had 
made  their  appearance  in  a  wheat  field,  some  distance  away,  but  as 
our  cavalry  deployed  and  interposed  their  line,  they  were  lost  sight 
of  altogether,  and  we  saw  no  more  of  them  until  after  we  had 
returned  to  our  tents  and  all  was  again  quiet,  when  our  cavalry 
came  slowdy  back,  and  with  them  fourteen  of  the  grey-backed  heroes 
of  the  wheat  field,  in  close  custody.  Not  a  man  had  been  hurt.  An 
orderly  lost  his  horse  close  by  General  Patrick's  side,  by  a  ball  from 
one  of  their  sharpshooters. 

That  night  came  cheering  news  from  our  comrades  on  the 
coast.  Norfolk  evacuated;  the  Merrimac  blown  up.  McClellan 
within  twenty  miles  of  Richmond ;  and  while  we  were  discussing 
with  hopeful  faces,  came  a  "still  later"  report.  Richmond  was 
taken,  said  rumor.  Hurrah !  said  we.  So  it  was,  but  only  on 
paper,  as  it  had  been  many  times  before. 


178  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

On  Wednesday,  the  I4th,  it  began  to  rain  again.  Part  of  the 
regiment  went  on  picket  next  day.  That  night  ten  regiments  of  the 
enemy  passed  within  a  short  distance  of  the  line,  and  the  boys  stood 
to  their  arms,  momentarily  expecting  an  attack.  Toward  morning 
a  party  of  the  enemy  opened  fire,  and  we  were  not  slow  in  returning 
the  compliment ;  but  as  the  rebels  kept  at  a  cautious  distance,  no 
one  was  hurt,  at  least  on  our  side,  until  after  we  were  relieved,  when 
one  of  the  35th  was  shot,  as  we  learned  soon  after. 

On  the  morning  of  the  i6th  the  rain  ceased,  and  we  returned  to 
camp.  Again  the  weather  became  pleasant,  and  we  enjoy  it  to* the 
utmost.  We  had  no  drills  next  day,  and  we  employed  the  time  in 
upholstering  our  tents  with  the  limbs  and  boughs  of  the  cedars  on 
the  bluff.  Sunday,  May  :8th,  was  delightfully  sunny,  and  many 
took  the  opportunity  for  a  stroll  through  the  city  and  its 
surroundings.  "  Bould  Soger "  describes  the  place  much  better 
than  I  can ;  so  I  only  say  that  to  the  poor  soldier,  an  exile  from 
home  and  kindred,  the  feelings  prompted  by  a  passing  look  at  those 
pleasant  old  houses,  with  their  embowering  tress,  vines  and 
shrubbery,  and  smooth  green  lawns  where  happy  children 
gambolled  in  their  spring  of  life,  amid  nature's  budding,  while  their 
grave  seniors  looked  on  as  though  in  the  sight  their  own  spring 
time  found  renewal,  the  faces  of  sweet  girls,  making  him  think, 
perhaps,  of  those  left  behind  him,  and  the  voices  of  song,  and 
laughter,  and  happiness  from  draped,  vine-covered  windows, 
loop-holes  of  agonizing  suggestion,  made  his  heart  ache  with 
longing. 

"When  remembrance  wracks  the  mind, 
Pleasures  but  unveil  despair." 

saith  the  immortal  Burns.  But  there  was  one  feature,  either  an 
alleviation  or  an  added  pang,  as  the  soldier  chose  to  see  it,  and  that 
was  the  hatred  which  seemed  a  part  of  the  religion  of  many  of  these 
people,  toward  whom  we  felt  and  demonstrated  nothing  but 
kindness.  Even  the  little  children  were  taught  and  encouraged  to 
heap  upon  us  indignities  their  elders  dared  not  venture :  the  ladies 
(?)  really  would  put  themselves  to  great  pains  in  showing  their 
detestation  of  the  "  hirelings  "  in  word  and  deed.  A  sweeping  aside 
of  skirts,  or  a  detour  into  the  middle  of  the  street,  with  a  flashing  oi 
disdainful  eyes,  was  the  very  least  we  could  expect  when  meeting 
one  of  these,  and  a  decent  regard  for  the  feelings  of  my  lady  readers 
forbids  the  recital  of  some  of  the  demonstrations  of  these  impassioned 
daughters  of  the  South. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  179 

Here  is  an  experience  more  pleasant.  On  a  fine  evening  you 
pause  in  hearing  of  a  flood  of  melody  from  one  of  those  open 
windows,  the  long  unheard  piano  mingling  its  rippling  tones  with 
those  of  sweet,  girlish  voices,  and  taking  you  back,  perhaps,  to 
hours  when  you  stood  entranced  beside  a  form  you  cannot  forget, 
and  watched  those  white  fingers  tripping  over  the  keys,  thereby 
forgetting  to  turn  the  music,  until  reminded  by  a  look  and  smile, 
and  perhaps  you  remember  how  after  that  you  forgot  quite  often, 
just  to  be  reminded  in  the  same  pleasant  way,  and  you're  not  a 
soldier  at  all  any  more,  and  don't  know  how  you  are  grasping  the 
railing  and  looking  with  all  your  eyes  right  into  that  window,  where 
you  don't  see  anything  at  all,  and  don't  expect  to,  till,  all  at  once, 
you  are  called  back  to  the  present  by  a  change  in  the  performance. 
You  have  been  seen,  Mr.  Hireling,  or  "  Mudsill,"  or  whatever  your 
name  may  be  and  it  is  for  your  especial  edification  that  "  My 
Maryland "  peals  out  with  all  the  strength  of  rich  voice  and 
thundering  accompaniment. 

"  Flanked,  by  Jove  !  "  perhaps  you  exclaim,  but  the  words 
aren't  very  bad,  considering  how  they  come,  and  the  music  makes 
you  forget  them,  for  the  air  is  really  grand,  and  stirs  you  with  as 
much  enthusiasm  and  ardor  as  it  does  the  "  fair  singers,"  so  you 
"face  the  music,"  and,  as  it  is  meant  for  you,  hear  it  out,  and 
perhaps  go  away  singing  it  over  to  yourself.  Perhaps  all  are  not 
aware  that  "  our  erring  sisters  "  can  only  claim  the  words  of  the  song 
so  popular  with  them  until  after  the  battle  of  Antietam,  but  such  is 
the  case.  "  O,  Tannenbaum !  "  is  a  song  familiar  to  many  Germans, 
who  recollect  that  their  fathers  sang  it  a  century  ago,  and  the  words 
of  "  My  Maryland,"  without  the  air,  are  anything  but  good. 
Instance  the  following : 

She's  neither  deaf,  nor  blind,  nor  dumb, 

See  how  she  spurns  the  Northern  scum, 

My  Maryland  !   My  Maryland  ! 

Captain  Noyes,  one  of  Gen.  Doubleday's  staff,  in  his  interesting 
work,  entitled  "  The  Bivouac  and  the  Battle  Field,"  a  book,  by  the 
way,  which  reviews  the  campaign  of  our  corps  through  the  "battle 
autumn  "  of  1862  in  a  most  truthful  manner,  gives  his  experience  as 
follows : 

As  we  walked  through  the  streets  of  Fredericksburg,  it  was  evident  that  we  were 
among  foes.  The  negroes  were  full  of  welcome,  greeting  us  with  a  smiling  courtesy 
which  needed  no  interpreter,  but  the  ladies  turned  away  their  faces  as  we  passed,  or 
manifested  their  hostility  in  ways  even  more  demonstrative.  I  confess  that  this  sort 


ISO  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

of  treatment,  while  it  did  not  hurt  my  feelings,  always  astonished  me.  Somehow  I 
had  never  been  able  to  get  up  a  feeling  of  hatred  against  the  Southerner,  even  after 
the  attack  on  Sumter, —  pitying  him  rather  as  the  worst  victim  of  an  accursed  system 
which  surrounds  his  cradle,  and  in  the  companion  of  his  childhood,  whose  divine 
origin  and  sanction  are  impressed  upon  him  from  the  pulpit  and  taught  him  at  the 
school,  entering  unquestioned  into  all  the  ramifications  of  his  social  life.  His  present 
suicidal  madness  had  seemed  to  me  only  a  part  of  the  disease.  It  was  not,  then,  with 
any  desire  for  revenge,  but  solely  to  restrain  him  from  blindly  involving  North  and 
South  in  one  common  ruin  we  had  come  hither,  and  it  was  thus  impossible  for  me  to 
look  upon  these  citizens  of  Fredericksburg  as  my  enemies,  but  rather  as  my 
countrymen,  to  come  back  by-and-by,  when  their  insanity  was  over,  to  the  old 
fraternal  relationship,  perhaps  forever  disenthralled  from  that  system  which  was  the 
cause  of  their  present  madness. 

But  our  Southern  friends  did  not  seem  to  look  at  it  exactly  in  this  light,  and  so 
we  had  to  make  the  best  of  it.  If  a  flag  floated  over  the  sidewalk,  the  fair  dame 
would  sweep  out  into  the  middle  of  the  muddy  street.  If  a  pleasant  face  at  an  open 
window  attracted  us  as  we  walked  by,  what  a  slamming  to  of  window  blinds  was 
there,  my  countrymen !  The  men  were,  however,  more  prudent,  and  treated  us 
usually  with  sufficient  courtesy. 

In  the  afternoon,  six  companies  of  our  regiment  being  on  picket 
duty,  a  flag  of  truce  came  in  from  the  rebel  lines,  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  away.  The  bearer,  a  Major  of  Infantry,  was  a  noble 
looking  fellow,  evidently  a  preux  chevalier  of  the  best  blood.  A 
splendid  gray  uniform,  trimmed  and  frogged  with  gold,  set  off  his 
handsome  figure  to  advantage,  and  he  managed  his  jet  black  stallion 
with  a  proud  grace,  not  a  whit  diminished  by  the  fact  that  his  eyes 
were  bandaged,  and  his  sword-hand  clasped  in  that  of  a  foe,  in  the 
person  of  our  Major,  who  rode  by  his  side,  conducting  him  to  the 
headquarters  of  General  McDowell. 

I  could  not  but  look  with  sad  regret  upon  one  who,  with  all  his 
youthful  fire  and  devotion  misdirected,  might  soon  add  one  more  to 
the  holocaust  of  noble  victims  offered  up  on  the  shrine  of  an  unholy 
cause ;  a  young  life  quenced  in  unsanctified  blood,  to  be  mourned, 
not  as  a  country's  benefactor,  but  as  one  lost  forever. 

On  the  next  Tuesday  the  railroad  bridge  was  finished,  and  the 
first  train  crossed  it,  and  now  we  were  certain  of  sure  and  speedy 
supplies,  in  case  of  an  advance  from  this  point.  Next  day  Sergeant 
Orville  S.  Dewey,  of  UD,"  received  a  commission  as  Lieutenant  in 
the  49th  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  then  on  the  Peninsula,  with  McClellan,  and 
departed  with  the  best  wishes  of  his  comrades. 

On  Thursday,  May  22d,  we  removed  our  camp  to  the  elevation 
on  which  stood  the  reservoir,  about  a  mile  to  the  right  and  rear  of 
Hazel  Dell,  and  within  a  short  distance  of  the  city,  the  plank  road 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT.  l8l 

being-  just  on  our  right.  Down  in  rear  of  the  camp  was  the  stone 
wall  so  obstinately  held  by  the  enemy  in  the  battle  of  the  ensuing- 
December,  costing  us  hundreds  of  lives.  A  beautiful  grove  of 
poplars  surrounded  the  reservoir,  and  the  high,  open  spot  upon 
which  we  pitched  our  tents  ;  two  fine  springs  were  near,  and  just  in 
front  was  the  residence  of  an  old  planter,  with  its  surrounding  grove 
of  fine  old  trees,  and  here  the  guard  stacked  their  arms,  and  lounged 
upon  the  grass  when  off  post. 

We  lay  here  one  week,  expecting  and  prepared  for  a  forward 
movement  at  any  hour.  Shield's  Division  had  arrived  at  Falmouth 
on  the  2ist,  and  was  expected  to  take  our  place.  The  enemy  were 
every  day  growing  more  and  more  aggressive.  The  pickets  were 
almost  constantly  skirmishing,  and  "  bushwhacking "  parties  and 
scouting  cavalry  made  frequent  attacks  upon  the  picket  line,  making 
that  duty  anything  but  insipid.  Our  line  in  front  at  this  time  skirted 
the  forest  out  to  the  left  of  the  telegraph  road,  crossed  it,  and 
taking  all  possible  advantage  of  the  open  ground  in  front,  followed 
the  woods  down  to  the  point  where  the  railroad  emerged  from  the 
bluff  in  front  of  the  Dell,  then  ran  under  the  cliff  by  the  alum  spring, 
out  past  the  mill,  and  again  up  through  the  woods  to  the  plank 
road.  Though  disposed  to  the  best  possible  advantage,  the  line 
offered  many  weak  points,  and  in  many  places  could  be  approached 
very  nearly  without  an  alarm,  and  this  fact  the  partisan  rangers, 
with  their  complete  knowledge  of  the  country  with  its  many 
by-paths,  did  not  fail  to  use  in  a  most  unsoldierly  manner, 
murdering  our  men  wherever  they  could  surprise  them.  The 
contrabands  came  in  night  and  day  and  sometimes  caused  no  little 
alarm  to  exposed  posts,  by  their  cautious  approaches  under  cover 
of  darkness.  I  remember  one  night  in  particular,  when  a  squad  of 
them  came  suddenly  upon  one  of  Company  "  F's  "  posts,  where 
stood  Johnny  Burke,  with  a  couple  of  comrades  sleeping  at  his  feet. 
John  challenged  them,  at  the  same  time  rousing  his  supporting 
force,  and  forming  for  action,  but  the  bewildered  darkeys,  not 
knowing  whether  they  had  met  a  friend  or  a  foe,  hesitated  until  the 
fatal  third  challenge  was  given,  and  then,  bang  went  three  muskets, 
and  an  unknown  number  of  very  much  demoralized  darkeys  went 
plunging  through  the  bushes  in  every  direction.  One  of  them,  in 
the  darkness,  ran  headlong  against  a  large  tree,  and  was  found  next 
morning  doubled  up  at  its  foot,  not  much  hurt,  but  very  bewildered, 
and  with  a  head  slightly  peeled.  The  tree  was  not  injured,  and  the 
darkey's  head  being  bandaged  up,  he  accompanied  the  boys  to  the 


l82  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

reserves  quite  cheerfully,  being  thereafter  still  further  gladdened  by 
a  cup  of  coffee,  and  a  breakfast  of  bacon  and  hard  tack,  after  which 
he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 

Part  of  our  regiment  now  went  out  daily  on  the  plank  road, 
relieving  the  posts  from  the  left,  and  the  old  picket  returning  by  the 
same  way.  The  boys  will  all  remember  the  spot  where  we  filed  off 
through  an  old  gate  into  a  lane,  to  approach  the  woods.  That  old 
gate  saw  many  a  lively  time  while  pickets  were  going  and  coming. 
An  old  toll-gate  stood  within  hailing  distance  down  the  road,  and, 
with  a  couple  of  hay-stacks,  afforded  shelter  to  the  enemy's 
marksmen,  while  our  own  situation  was  more  exposed.  Here,  every 
morning,  while  the  posts  were  being  relieved,  the  balls  buzzed 
around  in  a  lively  way,  the  gray-backs  usually  stepping  out  boldly 
when  relieved,  and  sending  a  parting  volley,  which  was  sometimes, 
out  of  pure  courtesy,  returned.  When  night  came,  we  were  always 
cautioned  to  shift  the  posts,  to  avoid  surprise,  and  whether  from 
"good  luck"  or  cautious  attention  to  duty,  we  did  not  lose  a  man 
during  the  occupation  of  this  line. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  183 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Arrival  of  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War.— A  Review.— McClellan's  Call  for  Aid.—"  The 
Capitol  must  be  Protected." — General  McDowell's  Instructions — On  to  Richmond. — 
Massaponax. — A  Delay. — The  Battle  of  Hanover  Court  House,  to  effect  a  junction  between  the 
two  Armies,  is  Countered  by  Jackson,  on  our  right. — A  Counter-march,  described  by  "  Bould 
Soger."— The  Second  Day's  March.— Making  Coffee.— Elk  Run.— Defeat  of  Banks.— From 
Catlett's  to  Markham  Station,  by  Rail,  and  the  return  march. 


DOUBLEDAY'S  Brigade  arrived  at  Falmouth  on  Thursday,  May 
22d,  from  Washington,  and  with  it  came  President  Lincoln 
and  the  Secretary  of  War,  the  apparent  object  of  the  visit  being  a 
review  of  the  forces  on  the  Rappahannock. 

Gen.  McClellan,  mustering  his  forces  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Chickahominy,  was  preparing  for  that  desperate  struggle  which  was 
to  end  so  fatally  for  him  and  his  brave  but  insufficient  army,  and 
meantime  earnestly  asking  for  more  troops  to  sustain  his  forces, 
weakened  as  they  were  by  casualties,  sickness,  garrisons  and  guards. 
But  where  were  they  to  come  from  ?  The  President  firmly  refuses 
to  uncover  the  Capitol  entirely ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  Gen. 
McClellan  assured  him  that  one  division  added  to  his  army  for  that 
effort  "would  do  more  to  protect  Washington  than  his  (Gen. 
McDowell's)  whole  force  could  possibly  do  anywhere  else  in  the 
field." 

To  this,  and  McClellan's  suggestion  that  a  junction  should  be 
effected  by  water,  the  President  responded  in  substance  as  follows  : 
That  after  careful  consideration,  he  was  unwilling  to  leave  the 
Capitol  unprotected,  and  that  allowing  such  a  step  to  be  a  prudent 
one,  it  would  require  more  time  to  effect  a  junction  between  the  two 
armies  by  way  of  the  Potomac  and  York  rivers  than  by  a  land 
march.  In  order,  therefore,  to  attack  Richmond  in  strength,  without 
delay,  Gen.  McDowell  had  been  ordered  to  effect  a  junction  in  the 
latter  way,  but  charged,  at  the  same  time,  by  no  mearts  to  uncover 
Washington. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  instructions  to  General 
McDowell : 


184  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  May  lyth,  1862. 

GENERAL: — Upon  being  joined  by  Shields'  Division,  you  will  move  upon 
Richmond  by  the  general  route  of  the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  railroad, 
co-operating  with  the  forces  under  Gen.  McClellan,  now  threatening  Richmond  from 
the  line  of  the  Pamunkey  and  York  rivers. 

While  seeking  to  establish,  as  soon  as  possible,  a  communication  between  your 
left  wing  and  the  right  wing  of  Gen.  McClellan,  you  will  hold  yourself  always  in  such 
a  position  as  to  cover  the  Capital  of  the  nation  against  a  sudden  dash  of  any  large 
body  of  the  rebel  forces. 

Gen.  McClellan  will  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  these  instructions,  and  will  be 
directed  to  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  establish  communication  with  your  left  wing, 
and  to  prevent  the  main  body  of  the  enemy's  army  from  leaving  Richmond,  and 
throwing  itself  upon  your  column  before  a  junction  of  the  two  armies  is  effected. 

A  copy  of  his  instructions  in  regard  to  the  employment  of  your  force  is  annexed. 

By  order  of  the  President. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 

Secretary  of  War. 
GEN.  MCDOWELL, 

Commanding  Department  of  Rappahannock. 

Of  course,  except  by  rumor,  we  knew  nothing  of  these 
instructions,  but  all  understood  that  the  time  to  move  on  Richmond 
had  come.  I  have  said  that  the  President  arrived  on  the  22d. 
Next  day  our  brigade  was  drawn  up  in  line  and  reviewed  by  him. 
I  had  never  marked  such  a  change  in  the  aspect  of  any  human  face 
within  so  short  a  time  as  was  apparent  in  that  of  the  President  since 
we  passed  him,  by  McClellan's  side,  on  the  occasion  of  the  grand 
review  at  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  only  a  few  months  before.  A 
nation's  cares  and  burdens  had  deepened  the  furrowed  cheeks  and 
bent  the  broad  shoulders,  and  a  painful  consciousness  of  immense 
responsibilities  seemed  to  look  out  with  every  glance  from  his 
restless  eyes. 

Three  days  more  of  picket  duty,  and  then  came  our  marching 
orders.  It  was  on  Sunday,  May  25th,  and  we  were  to  move  at  two 
in  the  afternoon.  The  enemy  had  fallen  back  in  the  night,  and 
clouds  of  smoke  were  rolling  up  in  the  South  from  his  deserted 
camps.  On  that  beautiful  Sunday  morning,  two  columns  moved 
out  by  different  roads,  the  cavalry  beating  about  in  advance,  and 
feeling  for  the  enemy. 

This,  it  seems,  was  a  reconnoissance,  and  the  main  force  on  the 
south  bank  did  not  move  until  next  day.  On  that  same  morning  a 
magazine  left  by  the  rebels,  by  some  accident  resulting  from 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  185 

carelessness,  blew  up,  killing  William  March,  of  Company  "  A,"  23d 
N.  Y.  V.,  who  was  guarding  it  at  the  time.* 

On  Monday  we  broke  camp,  and  taking  the  telegraph  road, 
marched  eight  miles,  crossing  the  Massaponax,  and,  in  a  rain  storm, 
camping  upon  a  bare  hill -top.  All  around  were  the  still  smoking 
camps  of  the  enemy,  and  along  the  roads,  in  the  fields,  nailed  to  the 
trees  and  fences,  were  boards  with  various  messages  left  by  our 
gray-back  friends,  addressing  us  as  "  d —  — d  Yanks,"  and 
informing  us  that  they  had  pressing  business  elsewhere,  but  would 
certainly  return  soon.  One,  in  the  form  of  a  guide-board,  with  a 
hand  boldly  sketched  in  charcoal,  and  pointing  South,  was  thus 
inscribed, —  "  30  MILES  TO  RICHMOND  !  COME  AND  SEE  us  !  " 

We  lay  upon  this  spot  until  the  29th,  wondering  at  the  delay, 
and  then  came  orders  to  counter-march  to  Fredericksburg,  en  route 
for  Catlett's,  en  route  for  somewhere  else,  nobody  knew  precisely 
where,  only  that  Jackson,  or  somebody  else,  had  been  so  impudent 
as  to  defy  all  calculation,  and  was  rapidly  getting  between  us  and 
Washington.  I  cannot  say  that  we  took  this  disappointment  with 
perfect  equanimity,  and  I  fear  that  the  Capital  was  consigned  to  an 
infernally  high  temperature  and  the  care  of"  H.  S.  M.,"  oftener  than 
strict  duty  required,  on  that  morning. 

In  the  meantime  McClellan  had  prepared  for  a  junction  with 
our  left.  On  May  26th,  learning  that  a  large  force  of  the  enemy 
was  near  Hanover  Court  House,  (just  thirty  miles  from  where  we 
lay),  and  in  a  position  either  to  reinforce  Jackson  or  prevent  a 
junction  with  McDowell,  and  that  the  enemy  had  fallen  back  from 
Fredericksburg,  and  McDowell  was  eight  miles  South  of  the  river, 
he  considered  it  imperative  to  dislodge  or  defeat  this  force.  This 
task  was  entrusted  to  Brigadier  General  Fitz  John  Porter, 
commanding  Fifth  Corps,  with  orders  to  move  at  daybreak  on 
the  27th. 

Then  followed  the  battle  of  Hanover  Court  House,  resulting  in 
a  complete  rout  of  the  enemy,  and  our  forces  holding  that  place  and 
Ashland  until  the  evening  of  the  29th,  when,  says  McClellan,  "  The 
objects  of  the  expedition  being  accomplished,  and  it  being  certain 
that  the  First  Corps  would  not  join  us  at  once,  Gen.  Porter  withdrew 
his  command  to  their  camps,  with  the  main  army,"  and  while  this 


*  It  was  currently  reported  at  the  time  that  some  infernal  contrivance  by  the  rebels  did  the  deed, 
but  the  facts  brought  out  in  the  investigation  of  the  affair,  and  which  1  have  from  good  authority,  leave 
no  conclusion  but  the  one  I  have  given. 


186  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

was  being  done  we  were  already  crossing  the  Rappahannock.     Now 
let  "  Bould  Soger  "  speak  again. 

BIVOUAC  SEVEN  MILES  FROM  FALMOUTH, 
May  29th,  1862. 

EXPRESS  : — I  say  May  29th,  but  indeed  I  am  uncertain  whether  it  be  that  date 
or  the  3Oth.  I  suppose  that  the  most  of  those  who  may  read  this  letter  are  sleeping 
while  I  write;  sleeping,  and  that,  too,  soundly,  between  nice  clean  white  sheets,  with 
plenty  of  bed-clothing  on  top,  a  multitude  of  softly-yielding  feathers  underneath,  and 
under  the  head  a  pillow  that  would  rival  that  of  a  babe's.  Yes,  and  I  suppose,  too, 
that  many  of  you,  when  you  get  up  in  the  morning  and  come  down  stairs  to  breakfast, 
to  your  cup  of  nice  hot  coffee  and  thick  cool  cream,  to  your  hot  rolls,  to  your  plate  of 
ham  and  eggs,  are  remarking  to  the  lady  of  the  house,  that  you  didn't  think  you 
slept  so  well  as  you  might  last  night;  that  there  was  hardly  a  sufficient  covering  of 
bed-clothes,  that  you  think  the  maid  neglected  to  stir  up  the  feathers,  or  that  you  was 
forced  to  the  wall  in  consequence  of  there  being  a  down-hill  side  to  the  bed.  And 
then  you  don't  see  why  there  couldn't  just  as  well  be  a  little  larger  quantity  and  a 
little  better  quality  of  soap  in  the  bathmg  room.  You  could  find  no  clean  towels  this 
morning.  This  ham  is  too  salty  and  the  eggs  are  hardly  done  enough,  and  you  prefer 
bread  to  hot  rolls.  Then,  perhaps,  you  seat  yourself  in  an  easy  chair,  take  up  the 
morning  papers,  :~ead  over  the  tax  bill  under  consideration  in  Congress,  and  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  you  are  one  of  the  purest  of  patriots,  and  are,  in  one  sense  at 
least,  bleeding  more  profusely  in  the  cause  of  your  country.  And  so  you  may  be. 
Certain  it  is,  you  are  if  you  bleed  willingly.  All  of  us  cannot  shoulder  arms  and 
serve  in  the  field.  All  of  us  cannot  pay  the  taxes  and  stay  at  home.  If  we  furnish 
the  bone  and  muscle,  you  must  furnish  the  other  sinews  of  war.  If  we  do  the  one 
and  you  the  other,  I'll  toss  up  a  penny  with  you  to  see  who  is  the  best  patriot.  But 
I  was  speaking  of  that  downy  bed  of  yours,  and  the  vision  was  forced  upon  me  by 
reflecting  upon  our  own  situation.  The  day  I  mailed  my  last  letter  we  moved  six 
miles  out  on  the  telegraph  road,  and  encamped  near  the  place  where  a  few  days 
before  was  situate  the  camp  of  the  rebels.  The  next  morning,  Companies  "  A"  and 
"H"  relieved  two  companies  of  the  2Oth  N.  Y.,  then  on  picket  duty.  The 
Companies  of  the  2oth  had  been  sent  out  the  previous  night,  and  were  therefore 
forced  to  establish  their  picket  line  without  the  aid  of  daylight.  The  next  morning 
they  found  themselves  facing  the  camp  of  their  friends,  instead  of  the  enemy's 
country,  and  instead  of  being  a  protection  to  us,  they  had  only  isolated  themselves 
from  our  support.  So  easy  is  it  for  one  to  become  bewildered  and  lost  in  the  woods; 
and  how  is  the  bewilderment  increased  when  darkness  makes  even  the  open  field 
more  of  a  labyrinth  than  are  the  woods  in  day  time  ! 

This  morning  we  picked  up  our  several  establishments  and  moved  towards 
Fredericksburg.  It  is  generally  understood  that  we  are  to  move  to  Catlett's  Station. 
Further  than  that,  none  of  us  who  are  not  in  high  place,  have  anything  definite.  We 
reached  the  city,  moved  through  it,  crossing  over  the  river,  down  the  hill  into 
Falmouth,  up  the  hill  out  of  it,  and  I  write  seven  miles  this  side  of  the  place  named. 
We  were  detained  in  Falmouth  by  the  baggage  trains  passing  through  the  streets,  and 
we  improved  the  time  by  filling  our  canteens  from  a  well  in  the  garden  of  a  house, 
opposite  to  which  the  head  of  the  column  had  halted.  It  was  a  fine  mansion,  a 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  187 

beautiful  garden,  and  they  who  lived  there  were  evidently  fine  people, —  polite  and 
obliging.  One  of  the  ladies  trembled  for  the  life  of  some  favorite  plants,  and  with 
all  the  gallantry  that  my  northern  education  would  permit,  I  offered  my  service  in  an 
endeavor  to  keep  the  men  from  tramping  upon  them.  Another  member  of  the 
regiment  coming  in  shortly  after,  lent  his  aid,  and,  between  us,  the  plants  are  still  a 
thing  of  beauty.  Our  efforts  o'er,  of  course  we  paid  our  respects  to  the  ladies,  who 
stepped  forward  to  thank  us.  Another  of  my  comrades  here  joined  .us,  and  we  three 
conversed  with  the  two  ladies.  The  first  of  my  companions  did  the  most  of  the 
talking  on  our  part,  and  where  there  is  a  lady  in  the  case  or  in  the  conversation,  I 
defer  most  humbly  to  him,  and  stand  demurely  by,  content  to  be  within  the  charmed 
circle  of  his  conversation.  Our  talk,  though,  was  cut  short  by  a  brief  and  summary 
sentiment  and  response.  The  elder  lady  was  indeed  a  fine,  noble-looking  old 
Virginia  mother,  and  she  rather  boasted  of  two  sons  in  the  320!  Virginia  regiment, 
The  younger  was  of  Scotch  parentage.  "  My  father  was  a  Scotchman,  and  he  always 
loved  his  native  land  the  best.  I  was  born  in  Virginia."  That  was  very  neatly  said. 
The  elder  lady  put  in,  "  Yes  !  and  I  was  born  in  Virginia.  I  am  a  true  Southerner, 
and  I  love  my  country,— VIRGINIA." 

"  Yes,  ladies,  and  I  love  my  country,  America.'''  And  three  bould  sogers  bowed 
low,  turned  upon  their  heels,  and  left  the  two  ladies  to  their  narrow  love.  "I  do 
love  turnips"  exclaimed  an  old  lady  whose  husband  "lay  a-moundering  in  the 
ground."  '"  Can't  you  find  something  more  worthy  of  your  love?"  growled  an  old 
bach.  But  our  march.  When  we  set  out  this  morning,  we  were  forced  to  wait  over 
an  hour  for  a  baggage  train  to  pass,  and  several  times  to-day  have  we  suffered  from 
similar  causes.  The  day  is  very  warm,  the  roads  very  dusty,  and  the  most  of  the  way 
we  have  marched  by  the  side  of  the  wagons  seven  miles  this  side  of  Falmouth,  and 
we  inarched  it  without  a  halt.  When  the  regiment  arrived  here  in  this  field,  it  was 
after  nine  o'clock,  and  so  exhausted  were  the  men,  that  they  literally  dropped  where 
they  stood,  and  were  sleeping  in  almost  an  instant.  Hardly  ten  shelter  tents  were 
pitched.  The  men  were  very  thirsty,  but  it  was  very  dark,  and  they  knew  not  where 
to  find  water.  One  can  hardly  walk  about  the  field  for  fear  of  stepping  upon  some 
tired  soldier.  A  few  moments  since,  I  walked  out  towards  the  road,  and  stepped 
square  upon  a  soldier  sleeping  in  the  tall  grass.  He  never  spoke,  never  moved,  so 
soundly  did  he  sleep.  And  I  am  sitting  upon  four  rails,  with  my  checker-board 
writing-desk  on  my  knee,  telling  you  all  about  it.  And  I  am  thinking  of  that  nice 
feather  bed  of  yours,  the  soft  side  of  a  rail  for  us.  I  think  I'll  have  to  be  a  little 
selfish,  and  claim  that  this  requires  the  most  patriotism.  It  may  be  hard  to  pay  heavy 
taxes,  but  these  rail-fence  beds  and  out-door  bedrooms  are  taxes  on  the  years  of  a 
man's  life.  And  so,  good  night  to  you;  and  when  you  come  down  to  breakfast  in 
the  morning,  to  the  ham  and  eggs,  hot  rolls,  and  hot  coffee,  think  of  those  who- lie 
on  the  rails,  on  the  ground,  and  eat  hard  bread  for  breakfast. 

We  had  marched  but  fifteen  miles  that  day,  but  we  did  not 
leave  our  advanced  camp  until  afternoon.  The  day  was  hot, 
terrible  hot  for  a  march,  and  we  were  delayed  some  time  in 
Fredericksburg.  There  was  a  contrast  in  the  manner  of  our  first 
entering  that  place  and  our  leaving  it.  We  entered  with  the 
evening  shadows,  noiselessly;  we  departed  at  mid-day,  with  a 


1 88  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

flourish  of  trumpets.  When  we  entered,  the  streets  had  seemed 
deserted ;  now  they  were  lined  with  faces  in  which  beamed  gladness 
at  our  departure,  and  anything  but  a  God-speed. 

There  was  one  exception.  A  lady  in  deep  mourning  stood  at  a 
street  corner,  weeping  bitterly  as  she  watched  the  passing  columns. 

One  man,  of  what  regiment  we  did  not  learn,  dropped  down  in 
the  hot  street  and  died. 

Next  day,  the  wagons  having  come  up,  with  our  rations,  the 
bugle  sounded  to  strike  tents  at  nine,  and  we  marched  on.  That 
day's  march  was  most  severe.  The  bright,  dazzling  sky,  arched 
above  us  like  a  great  burning-glass,  through  which  the  sun's  rays 
poured  down  in  condensed  fire  upon  our  devoted  heads.  Painfully 
we  toiled  along,  vainly  essaying  to  ease  the  weight  of  knapsacks  by 
slinging  them  upon  our  guns,  fighting  for  water  at  the  wayside 
springs,  few  and  far  between,  and  every  few  rods  some  exhausted 
fellow  staggering  to  the  roadside,  "played  out."  We  took  the 
same  road  by  which  we  had  at  first  approached  Falmouth,  and  the 
few  inhabitants  skirting  it,  aware  of  our  approach,  annoyed  us  as 
much  as  possible,  chiefly  by  pitching  bucket  and  windlass  down  the 
well,  and  thus  cutting  off  our  supply  of  indispensable  water. 

Soon  after  noon,  heavy  cloud  banks  rolled  up  from  the 
South-West,  and  after  a  short  interval  of  refreshing  coolness  and 
shadow,  down  came  the  torrent.  The  flood-gates  were  up,  and  the 
afternoon's  march  was  but  little  pleasanter  than  the  morning.  We 
halted  at  four,  in  a  pine  wood,  planting  the  brigade  tri-color  to 
collect  the  stragglers,  and  made  a  cup  of  coffee. 

Made  a  cup  of  coffee  !  A  very  unimportant  operation,  perhaps 
you  think,  my  citizen  friend.  Not  so  !  Next  to  that  when  he  drops 
his  heavy  knapsack,  the  soldier's  happiest  moment  is  when  he  makes 
his  coffee,  and  that  experience  he  remembers  with  most  pleasure, 
the  first  is  only  a  relief,  to  be  thought  no  more  of  when  the  fatigue 
is  over, —  the  last  is  a  pleasure  of  which  the  dwellers  in  walled  cities 
have  little  notion.  Your  fragrant  mocha,  smoking  in  its  Sevres  cup 
of  white  and  gold,  with  a  lump  of  crystalized  sweetness,  and  its  rich 
amber  toned  down  with  just  the  right  quantity  of  golden  cream,  may 
be  an  important  item  in  your  morning  meal  but  you  are  never 
deprived,  and,  shared  with  your  other  luxuries,  it  loses  its  zest. 
Now  observe  that  soldier.  Did  you  ever  see  one  of  those  men 
whose  strong  arms  built  our  railroads  and  excavated  our  canals,  and 
who  now  form  so  large  an  item  in  the  armies  of  the  nation,  pausing 
in  his  work,  beside  his  up-tilted  barrow,  and  filling  the  little  black 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  189 

"cludheen"  which  is  so  rarely  from  between  his  lips.  See  him 
carefully  place  it  between  his  teeth,  draw  forth  his  knife  and  his 
solid  black  "  plug-  "  of  tobacco,  hold  it  daintily  between  the  thumb 
and  forefinger,  and  shave  the  little  slices  into  the  upturned  palm, 
grind  them  carefully  between  his  horny  hands,  his  honest  face 
glowing  with  anticipation  of  their  balmy  ignition,  and  finally,  the 
operation  ended,  right  his  barrow  and  trundle  it  away  with  new 
vigor?  I  have.  And  I  have  never  been  able  to  settle  rightly  in 
my  mind  upon  which  part  afforded  him  most  gratification,  the 
anticipation  or  the  smoke,  remembering  that,  in  most  of  the  labors 
we  devote  to  a  selfish  end,  we  take  more  pleasure  than  in  the  end 
itself.  But  while  we  are  talking  our  soldier  proceeds  to  business, 
for  he  has  no  time  for  abstraction.  Like  our  Irishman,  he  is  taking 
the  sweetest  and  least  substantial  part  of  his  evening  meal,  for  you 
must  know  that  in  the  army  no  meal  is  considered  complete  without 
its  coffee. 

Having  unbuckled  his  haversack,  he  takes  from  the  strap, 
where  it  has  hung  all  day,  gathering  dust  and  tinkling  against 
canteen  and  bayonet  sheath,  his  old,  black  tin  cup,  crusted  with  the 
smoke  of  many  camp  fires,  and  fills  it  from  his  replenished  canteen. 
He  has  gathered  a  few  dry  sticks  and  lighted  a  little  fire,  around 
which  a  squad  of  comrades  gather,  each  adding  his  little  pile  of  fuel, 
and  producing  his  cup.  And  now  the  little  flecks  of  ashes  which 
the  flames  have  cast  into  it  begin  to  move  upon  the  water,  and  then 
hurry  to  and  fro,  and  round  and  round,  a  ripple  bubbles  up  around 
one  edge,  another  bursts  up  in  the  centre,  then  one  side  heaves  up 
and  combs  like  a  billow's  crest,  over  upon  the  other ;  and  now  is  the 
propitious  moment  for  the  mingling  of  the  Arabian  berry  with  the 
wave,  from  which  shall  spring  a  Lethean  draught  which  Jove 
might  sip. 

Hastily  diving  into  the  haversack,  he  fishes  up  a  stocking  — 
What?  Why,  a  stocking,  tied  up  with  a  supernumerary  — 
shoe-string, —  a  clean  stocking,  of  course, —  "what's  in  a  name?" 
and  the  woolen  fabric  better  protects  the  aromatic  grain  from  heat 
and  damp,  and  from  it  withdraws  a  handful  of  the  rich  brown 
contents,  and  pours  them  into  the  cup.  The  surface  levels  again, 
but  for  a  moment,  then  a  few  bubbles  round  the  edge,  the  mass 
heaves  and  darkens,  and,  as  the  billow  rises  again,  disappears,  to  be 
seen  only  in  separate  grains,  as  they  whirl  madly  round  this  pigmy 
maelstrom.  Now  it  rises  in  a  frothy  tide,  and  threatens  to  inundate 
the  ministering  fire,  but  the  careful  eye  sees,  and  the  quick  hand 


IQO  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

snatches  it  away,  and  it  is  safe.  A  little  more  boiling,  to  make  it 
strong,  tending  the  fire  carefully,  and  it  is  done,  only  requiring  a 
dash  of  sugar,  which  comes  from  another  stocking,  and  it  is  ready. 
Black,  but  oh  !  how  fragrant ;  its  bitterness  just  qualified  by  the 
sugar,  and  dispelled  with  such  certainty  and  speed,  with  a  trifle  of 
hard  tack  and  bacon,  that  "  goneness,"  or  sensation  of  vacancy  which 
made  your  belts  seem  so  loose  an  hour  ago. 

Then  you  light  your  pipe  —  the  leaf  tobacco  we  found  in  that 
last  dry-house  is  very  good  —  and  "  blow  a  cloud  "  after  which  you 
bathe  your  burning,  aching  feet,  that  you  may  be  well  in  the 
morning,  and  then  you  "  roll  up."  The  coffee,  and  that  last  pipe, 
have  done  your  business.  Your  quivering  nerves,  sore  with  the 
day's  exertion,  are  quiet,  and  you  sleep  calmly  and  soundly,  to  rise 
refreshed  at  daybreak,  with  the  first  blast  of  the  bugle. 

We  halted  for  that  night's  bivouac  near  Elk  Run,  having 
inarched  twenty-two  miles. 

Next  morning  we  broke  camp  at  seven,  and  marched  to  the 
Run,  a  distance  of  about  three  miles,  where  we  halted  while  Augur's 
brigade  passed  us  towards  Catlett's,  where  they  were  to  be  shipped 
in  advance,  for  Manassas  Junction,  and  from  thence  to  Front  Royal. 
Here  we  received  a  mail,  which  had  followed  us  in  care  of  Jimmy 
McCabe,  our  post  boy,  and  with  it  papers  of  a  late  date,  from  which 
we  learned  the  particulars  of  the  movements  of  Stonewall  Jackson 
on  our  left,  which  we  were  now  on  our  way  to  intercept. 

The  enemy  had  made  a  desperate  push  upon  Harper's  Ferry, 
placing  Gen.  Banks  in  a  critical  position,  and  necessitating  the 
immediate  withdrawal  of  troops  from  the  Rappahannock  for  his 
succor. 

At  the  time  when  the  division  of  General  Shields  was  taken 
from  him  to  swell  our  advancing  column  in  its  demonstration  on 
Richmond,  General  Banks  was  at  Sharpsburg,  with  about  six 
thousand  men.  On  the  23d  a  rebel  force  of  between  seven  and  ten 
thousand  men  fell  upon  one  regiment  and  two  companies,  guarding 
the  bridge  at  Port  Royal,  destroying  it  entirely,  crossed  the 
Shenandoah,  and  on  the  24th  pushed  on  to  get  North  of  Banks,  on 
the  road  to  Winchester.  The  latter  General  reached  the  place  first, 
and  next  day  a  battle  ensued,  in  which  Banks  was  overwhelmed  and 
driven  in  full  retreat  towards  Martinsburg.  Stonewall  Jackson,  with 
ten  thousand  men,  was  near  Front  Royal,  following  up  and 
supporting  the  pursuing  force,  and  another  force  of  ten  thousand 
were  taking  the  same  direction  from  near  Orleans. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  191 

Still  later,  Banks  was  holding-  Jackson  in  check  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  with  the  assistance  of  a  force  detached  from  our  corps  and 
sent  by  way  of  Washington,  together  with  regiments  and  batteries 
from  that  place  and  Baltimore.  Our  own  force,  under  McDowell, 
of  twenty  thousand  men,  moving  upon  Front  Royal,  and  General 
Fremont  with  his  entire  force,  from  Franklin,  on  the  march  from 
Harrisonburg,  were  to  get  in  the  enemy's  rear,  and  if  possible  cut 
off  his  retreat. 

Now  that  a  fair  prospect  for  some  fighting  lay  before  us,  the 
excitement  of  anticipation  rose  to  a  pitch  Iwe  had  not  felt  since  the 
memorable  days  of  that  July  at  Fort  Runyon.-  Fighting  was 
actually  going  on  and  we  were  wanted,-  and  behind  the  swift  engine 
would  soon  be  rapidly  approaching  the  scene  of  our  first  "trial  by 
sword." 

A  herd  of  cattle  had  been  driven  up  during  the  morning  and 
were  being  slaughtered,  and  three  days'  rations  dealt  out  to  the 
men,  a  third  of  it  being  put  immediately  into  the  kettles,  and  the 
rest  dealt  out  raw.  This  meat,  cooked  before  the  animal  warmth 
had  left  it,  almost  before  the  fibres  had  ceased  to  quiver,  and 
without  sufficient  salt,  would  have  been  a  disgusting  meal  at  any 
other  time,  but  hungry,  as  we  were,  we  devoured  it  unhesitatingly, 
though  many  were  made  sick  in  consequence. 

At  four  that  afternoon,  in  a  rain  storm,  we  marched  on  to 
Catlett's  Station,  two  miles  from  the  Run ;  and  after  standing  in  the 
mud  and  rain  for  about  an  hour,  the  train  was  ready.  We  were 
packed  into  freight  cars,  each  containing  one  company,  and  as  there 
was  hardly  standing  room  in  ours,  and  no  amount  of  ingenuity  and 
good  humor  could  effect  a  comfortable  arrangement,  I  with  others 
climbed  upon  deck,  and,  being  very  tired,  rolled  myself  in  my 
rubber  poncho,  and  tightly  clasping  the  foot-plank,  along  the  centre, 
slept  soundly.  The  rain  fell  all  night,  and  I  awoke  at  daybreak  in 
about  four  inches  of  water,  collected  in  the  hollow  of  the  old,  sunken 
deck,  but  refreshed  and  in  better  condition  than  those  of  my 
comrades  inside,  whose  somewhat  haggard  faces  told  the  story  of  a 
hard  and  sleepless  night.  We  had  halted  at  Manassas  Junction, 
that  is,  four  cars  with  Companies  "  B,"  "  D,"  and  "  F,"  had  been 
detached  from  our  train,  and  the  rest,  with  the  field  and  staff  officers 
and  the  remainder  of  the  regiment,  had  gone  on. 

We  followed  at  eleven  next  morning,  it  being  Sunday,  and  the 
first  day  of  June.  The  sky  had  cleared  up,  and  the  sun  came  out 
pleasantly ;  all  crowded  upon  deck,  the  better  to  see  the  beautiful 


IQ2  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

country  through  which  we  were  passing,  and  eagerly  on  the  watch 
for  anything  denoting  fun  ahead.  Through  the  wild  Thoroughfare 
Gap,  winding  almost  impossible  curves,  like  a  snake  in  a  bramble, 
our  train  "  dragged  its  slow  length  along,"  the  scene  alternating  on 
either  side  in  cultivated  fields,  rocky  slopes,  wooden  ridges,  a  dark 
romantic  glen  with  its  old  mill,  mossy  and  dilapidated,  and  then  a 
perpendicular  cut,  rocks  and  trees,  more  angles,  and  while  you  are 
calculating  the  necessary  degree  of  speed  required  to  hurl  you  from 
the  deck  —  as  the  train  whips  round  one  of  these  corners  —  against 
the  opposite  wall,  and  the  possibility  of  avoiding  the  car-wheels  in 
your  subsequent  evolutions,  flash !  you  are  out  in  the  sunlight 
again.  Then  come  beautiful  country  homes,  with  glimpses  of 
fine-looking  women;  and  there  are  pigs,  and  poultry,  and  other 
"game"  of  the  like  kind,  perambulating  in  unconscious  security, 
which  is  enough  to  make  one's  heart  ache  for  their  safety,  if  the 
train  should  stop ;  but  it  don't  stop,  and,  at  five,  we  halt,  and 
dismount  at  Piedmont,  having  passed  the  locality  of  last  night's 
murderous  accident, —  which  I  leave  "  Bould  Soger"  to  describe, — 
stopping  here  all  night,  and  moving  on  next  morning  at  eight,  to 
Markham,  where  we  joined  the  regiment.  ''  Bould  Soger,"  with 
his  company,  was  in  the  advance  train,  and  thus  describes  the 
excursion : 

May  3 ist,  we  took  the  cars  at  Catlett's  Station,  ran  down  to  Manassas  Junction, 
lay  there  until  morning,  and  started,  as  we  supposed,  for  Strasburg.  At  about  three 
P.  M.,  June  ist,  we  arrived  at  Markham  Station,  got  off  the  cars,  and  took  dinner  on 
the  place  of  the  rebel  Colonel  Ashby.  The  previous  night,  the  train  containing,  I 
believe,  the  Brooklyn  I4th,  ran  into  the  train  of  the  Sharpshooters,  killing  one,  and 
wounding  forty  of  the  latter.  Riding  on  the  rail  through  an  enemy's  country,  and 
where  the  trains  are  not  regulated  by  a  time-table,  is  not  a  very  safe  or  pleasant  mode 
of  traveling.  The  train  of  the  Sharpshooters  was  at  a  standstill,  with  a  signal 
lantern  at  the  rear.  The  train  of  the  I4th  came  speeding  round  the  curve,  a  man 
took  the  lantern  from  its  place  to  make  the  signal  for  the  approaching  train  to  stop. 
In  doing  this  the  light  went  out,  and  we  pass  a  newly  made  grave  by  the  roadside, 
and  look  in  at  the  house  where  lay  some  forty  of  the  wounded.  Of  course  we  visit 
the  house  of  the  famous  Ashby,  and  down  in  the  cellar,  overhauling  a  heap  of  old 
papers,  we  find  some  interesting  relics,  and  pocket  them.  We  found  an  old  and  very 
neatly  kept  ledger  belonging  to  the  house  of  Ashby  &  Stribbling,  of  Alexandria,  and 
bearing  date  1821.  There  are  accounts  with  the  Washington  family  and  John 
Marshall.  I  do  not  know  as  to  the  fact,  but  a  correspondent  of  some,  I  believe, 
New  York  paper,  states  that  the  latter  once  lived  at  this  place.  Then  this  account 
must  have  been  with  the  famous  jurist,  and  it's  mine,  sure.  John  Marshall  —  Dr. 
"  To  two  quarts  whisky."  "  If  the  Court  knows  herself,  and  she  thinks  she  do,"  then 
John  Marshall  and  his  "  two  quarts  whisky,"  existed  in  those  primitive  times  when 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  193 

good  things  in   moderation  —  even    liquor  —  were   universally    used,   approved    of, 
insisted  upon. 

After  dinner  we  again  got  aboard  of  the  cars,  and  started  for  Front  Royal.  "  Down 
Brakes,"  toots  the  engine  whistle,  the  train  runs  slower,  a  man  jumps  aboard  the 
engine  and  jumps  off,  after  saying  to  the  engineer,  "  Go  on  without  stopping  for 
wood  or  water;  they  are  fighting  up  above."  All  very  well  to  say  go  on  without 
wood  or  water,  but  this  iron  horse  won't  stir  unless  you  give  him  plenty  to  eat  and 
drink.  The  train  stops,  and  the  prospect  of  a  fight  makes  plenty  of  wood  heavers. 
The  tender  has  its  load  of  wood  and  water  in  a  moment,  and  away  we  go.  Manassas 
Gap!  winding  —  winding  around  the  mountains  runs  the  track,  and  we  are  entering 
the  Gap.  Three  hills  of  solid  rock  have  been  cut  through  ;  there  are  short  intervals 
between  the  hills,  and  the  distance  from  the  entrance  to  the  end  of  the  Gap  is  about 
half  a  mile.  From  the  track  to  the  top  of  the  highest  hill  is  perhaps  fifty  feet. 
Blue  Ridge  Ruts  !  the  hills  and  mountains,  thickly  wooded,  are  piled  one  above  the 
other,  and  inspire  an  inexpressible  feeling  of  grandeur  —  sublimity.  But  everything 
makes  a  different  impression  on  different  minds.  While  I  am  thinking  how  beautiful, 
grand,  is  this  land  of  mountains,  my  chum,  Bill  Coldweather,  who  sits  by  my  side  on 
the  tender's  wood  pile,  is  thinking  of  the  utility  of  the  design.  "  Bould,"  he 
exclaims,  hunching  me  in  the  side  with  that  sharp  elbow  of  his,  and  thereby 
disturbing  my  meditations,  "  how  very  loosely  this  dirt  was  thrown  in."  Wretch!  I 
could  almost  wish  the  fireman  would  mistake  you  for  an  uncut  stick  of  wood,  and 
chuck  you  into  the  furnace.  But  the  fireman  is  a  small  man,  and  Bill  has  worked  on 
a  farm,  and  dug  an  oil  well.  "  Ah,  yes  !  Bill,  how  about  that  dry  oil  well  ?  How 
very  loosely  the  oil  in  that  country  was  thrown  in."  I  guess  by  the  red  in  Bill's 
face  that  I  shall  not  again  be  disturbed  by  that  sharp  elbow. 

We  are  passing  round  a  sharp  curve,  on  an  embankment  fifty  feet  high,  and  the 
top  as  wide  only  as  the  track.  There  is  a  perceptible  jar,  something  beside  the 
shake  of  the  usual  motion  of  the  cars.  We  think  nothing  of  it,  but  our  careful 
engineer  whistles  down  brakes.  The  next  day  we  learn  that  on  that  grade  a  rail  was 
found  loosened,  having  probably  been  tampered  with.  One  mile  from  Front  Royal 
and  an  engine  ahead  of  us  is  off  the  track.  It  cannot  be  got  on,  and  so  General 
Augur  orders  us  to  remain  here  in  the  cars  all  night.  And  how  came  we  subject  to 
General  Augur's  orders  ?  Only  two  regiments  of  Patrick's  brigade  got  aboard  the 
cars  at  Catlett's.  Ours  was  the  first.  In  our  regiment  were  nine  companies. 
Company  "C"  was  left  on  duty  at  Fredericksburg.  Before  we  left  Catlett's,  a 
number  of  cars,  containing  four  companies,  were  detached  from  the  train,  and  only 
five  went  on  to  the  Junction.  Somewhere  between  Markham  Station  and  where  we 
are  to  pass  the  night,  cars  containing  three  more  of  our  companies  are  detailed. 
General  Patrick  is  not  with  us,  and  so  the  remaining  two  companies  are  under 
General  Augur.  The  balance  of  the  regiment  is  somewhere  on  the  road,  and 
probably  but  a  short  distance  in  the  rear.  One  of  General  Augur's  Aids  steps  into 
the  car,  and  gives  an  order  to  our  Colonel  to  be  ready  to  move  on  at  three  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  as  orders  had  been  received  to  proceed  on  to  Strasburg  by  rail.  So 
we  pass  the  night  very  near  the  battle-ground  of  the  1st  Maryland. 

In  the  morning  at  daylight  we  move  on,  but  not  more  than  a  mile.  The  railroad 
bridge  over  the  Shenandoah  is  partly  destroyed,  and  the  cars  cannot  pass  over  it.  It 
is  indeed  strange.  Ordered  to  go  on  by  rail  to  Strasburg,  where  it  is  known  that  the 


194  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

bridge  over  a  wide  river  was  partly  destroyed  several  days  before,  and  there  is  no 
knowledge  or  certainty  of  its  having  been  repaired. 

There  are  strange  stories  told  of  how  our  engineer  was  ordered  to  run  on  at  three 
A.  M.,  and  how  he  absolutely  refused;  how  when  he  stopped  the  train  before  the 
bridge  he  trembled  from  head  to  foot  at  what  is  by  many  considered  to  have  been  a 
very  narrow  escape ;  and  much  more,  in  a  similar  strain.  This  is  certain  —  we  passed 
the  night  less  than  a  mile  distant  from  that  bridge.  The  bridge,  and  all  the  country 
round  about  was  and  had  been  for  several  days  in  our  possession.  There  was  no  lack 
of  facilities  for  communication  with  the  troops  then  at  the  bridge.  Any  man  could 
have  walked  there  and  back  in  half  an  hour,  and  ascertained  the  truth.  We  ran 
down  expecting  to  cross  and  go  on  to  Strasburg. 

If  we  had  attempted  to  have  crossed,  hundreds  of  us  would  have  been  murdered. 
Just  before  we  reach  the  bridge  there  is  a  very  steep,  down  grade.  This  is  certain. 
It  was  an  escape ;  how  narrow  I  am  not  prepared  to  say ;  but  it  was  an  escape,  and 
somebody  is  to  blame.  This  also  is  certain,  and  very  certain.  Just  as  fast  as 
government  shoes  will  allow,  I  want  to  get  into  some  other  portion  of  this  State. 

June  2d. 

We  returned  by  rail  to  Haymarket.  I  cannot  speak  of  the  return  trip,  for  I  was 
oblivious  to  everything  except  ague,  fever  and  quinine  !  King's  Division  is  now 
here, —  twelve  miles  from  Manassas  Junction,  and  we  are  to  move  early  in  the 
morning. 

Once  more  Jackson  had  slipped  through  our  fingers  and  got 
clear  away,  and  nothing  to  do  now  but  lake  the  back  track  again 
with  the  best  possible  grace.  So  with  many  groans  and  some 
swearing,  the  engine  was  reversed,  and,  at  Thoroughfare  Gap,  some 
time  in  the  afternoon,  we  were  unshipped,  with  the  35th,  to  await 
the  arrival  of  the  train  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade.  When  it  came, 
we  found  that  we  had  been  dumped  in  the  wrong  place,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  our  shelter  tents  were  pitched  for  the 
night,  and  many  of  us  had  our  supper  on  the  coals,  we  were  ordered 
to  fall  in  immediately,  and  march  five  miles  farther,  while  our 
comrades  on  the  train  passed  on.  With  much  naughty  talk,  the 
packs  were  slung  again,  and,  sore  as  we  were  with  our  two  days' 
journey  in  the  packing-case-on-wheels,  denominated  cars,  we  started 
off  down  the  railroad  for  Haymarket. 

Many  fell  out,  too  tired  and  hungry  to  go  farther,  and  straggled 
to  the  farm  houses  for  something  to  eat,  as  nearly  all  were  still  in 
money  sufficient  to  afford  the  luxuries  of  hoe-cake  and  milk.  The 
rest  of  us  arrived  at  Haymarket  weary  and  wet;  for  a  thunderstorm 
raged  during  the  last  hour,  and  did  not  hold  up  until  some  time 
next  morning.  In  the  wet  grass,  cold  and  miserable,  we  lay  that 
night.  Next  morning  we  received  rations,  and  in  the  afternoon 
moved  to  a  wood  beyond  the  village,  where  we  again  pitched  our 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  IQ5 

tents,  and  lay  in  the  rain  for  two  nights  and  days.  Our  Irish  linen, 
by  long  use,  had  become  old  and  rotten,  and  was  but  a  slight 
protection  against  the  merciless  beating  of  the  rain. 

Thursday,  at  midnight,  came  orders  to  march  on  Warrenton  at 
four  next  morning,  June  6th,  but  asVe  were  falling  in,  orders  came 
for  our  regiment  to  remain  as  a  guard  to  the  supply  depot  at 
Gainesville.  So  we  marched  about  a  mile,  and  again  pitched  our 
tents,  near  the  depot,  while  the  balance  of  the  brigade  went  on. 

At  this  place  we  lay  until  June  gth,  when  we  again  started  for 
Fredericksburg.  It  rained  during  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  and 
at  three  we  halted  at  Catlett's,  having  marched  twelve  miles  over 
a  rough  and  muddy  road,  and  obliged  to  ford  the  numerous  streams. 
We  lay  at  Catlett's  in  the  mud  and  rain,  until  the  morning  of  the 
nth,  when  we  again  moved  on,  joining  our  brigade  at  Elk  Run 
near  noon. 

Here  lay  our  division,  and  here  we  remained  until  the  I3th, 
when  we  again  broke  camp,  and  marched  about  three  miles  in  the 
rain,  encamping  again  at  Town  Run.  Next  day  we  received  the 
mail  which  had  been  withheld  for  nearly  three  weeks,  in  consequence 
of  the  uncertainty  of  our  whereabouts. 

On  the  2ist  we  marched  about  eight  miles,  and  encamped  on 
the  north  branch  of  Deep  Run.  Here,  on  the  23d,  we  received  our 
pay  for  March  and  April. 

Next  morning  at  six  we  were  again  on  the  march,  and  arrived 
at  our  camping  place,  opposite  Fredericksburg,  at  half-past  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  it  being  Tuesday,  June  24th,  and  a  rainy 
day.  The  last  of  our  "  easy  stages,"  a  good  fifteen  miles,  had  been 
accompanied  by  a  soaking  shower,  which  continued  through  the 
night. 


196  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 


CHAPTER  X. 


Camp  "  Rufus  King." — Jackson's  Escape. — McClellan's  Change  of  Base. — Pope  assumes  Command. 
— July  4th,  1862. — "  Sargeant  Delaney,  do  you  mane  that?  " — Our  last  Church  Service  at  "  Rufus 
King." — We  Cross  the  River  ior  the  third  time." — A  Successful  Raid. — Company  "C"  has  a 
Fight. — Preparations  for  an  Advance. — Recapitulation. 


ON  FRIDAY,  June  27th,  we  removed  our  camp  to  a  spot  about 
two  miles  back  from  the  river,  where  about  ninety  acres  of 
fine  meadow,  gently  rolling  to  the  South  from  the  forest  in  our  rear, 
afforded  us  a  splendid  drill  ground.  General  Patrick  established 
his  headquarters  near  the  front  of  this  ground,  where  the  various 
regiments  of  his  brigade,  encamped  side  by  side  along  its  rear, 
might  be  constantly  under  his  eye. 

On  this  beautiful  spot,  which  we  named  Camp  Rufus  King,  we 
lay  until  July  28th,  just  one  month,  the  weather  terribly  warm  for 
most  of  the  time,  and  our  duty  very  severe.  Brigade  drill  in  the 
morning  from  five  to  seven,  then  breakfast,  guard-mounting, 
company  drill,  usually  in  skirmishing,  and  a  batallion  drill  and 
parade  in  the  afternoon,  was  the  regular  order  of  the  week.  On 
Sunday  we  had  the  usual  inspection,  and  after  parade,  church 
service,  in  which  General  Patrick,  as  usual,  took  a  leading  part. 

The  audacious  and  successful  Jackson  having  safely 
accomplished  his  diversion  on  our  right,  drawn  the  greater  part  of 
the  Army  of  the  Rappahannock  away  from  its  field  of  co-operation 
with  that  of  the  Potomac,  thus  leaving  brave  Little  Mac  to  flounder 
alone  in  the  boggy  borders  of  the  Chickahominy,  and  to  relinquish 
step  by  step  the  ground  so  painfully  gained,  was  now  marching 
again  across  our  front,  but  so  far  away  that  we  could  not  know  his 
exact  whereabouts,  or  where  to  expect  his  next  blow.  Pending 
such  knowledge,  we  held  almost  the  previous  line  of  defence,  our 
forces  so  disposed  as  to  equally  give  all  its  points  a  chance  of 
speedy  help  in  case  of  an  attack.  In  the  meantime  McClellan, 
having  driven  the  enemy  at  Hanover  Court  House  and  at  Fair  Oaks, 
was  unable,  from  the  state  of  the  roads  consequent  upon  severe  rain, 
to  follow  up  the  advantage  thus  gained.  The  Chickahominy  flowing 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  1 97 

between  his  right  and  left  wings,  and  swollen  by  the  rains,  carried 
away  in  succession  all  his  bridges,  and  threatened  to  destroy  entirely 
all  communication,  and  thus  expose  him  to  the  risk  of  a  defeat  in 
detail,  while  unable  to  support  an  attack  on  either  flank.  For  this 
reason  it  was  determined,  on  the  26th  of  June,  to  make  a  change 
of  base  to  the  left  bank,  and  use  the  James  River  route  as  a  line  of 
attack  and  supply.  The  inability  of  McDowell  to  co-operate, 
confined  as  he  was  to  the  defence  of  Washington,  and  unable  to  do 
more  than  hold  Jackson  in  check,  exposed  McClellan's  right,  and 
the  long  line  of  supply  from  the  White  House  to  the  Chickahominy, 
to  the  enemy,  and  forced  the  immediate  change  of  base  across  the 
Peninsula.  At  this  time  Jackson  made  his  appearance,  and  then 
followed  the  battles  of  Mechanicsville,  Games'  Mills,  Allan  Farm, 
Savage  Station,  Glendale,  and  Malvern  Hill,  McClellan  slowly  and 
stubbornly  falling  back  to  Harrison's  Landing,  his  fast  diminishing 
forces  fighting  their  fate  with  a  heroism  worthy  of  a  better,  against 
fearful  odds,  while  we,  unconscious  of  their  need,  waited  by  the 
Rappahannock  for  the  long  wished  for  word  that  should  send  us  to 
their  assistance. 

It  is  not  our  aim  to  write  a  history  of  the  war,  but  in  considering 
the  part  our  little  regiment  took  in  the  achievements  of  the  day,  it 
is  not  amiss  to  speculate  upon  the  possible  results  which  might  have 
followed  a  different  management.  The  impartial  future  must  decide, 
if  blame  rests  upon  any  one  for  the  terrible  disasters  of  those  days, 
never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  saw  and  felt  them,  or  how  they 
might  have  been,  instead,  the  portion  of  our  foes. 

On  the  26th  day  of  June,  Major  General  John  Pope,  by  special 
order  of  the  President,  assumed  command  of  the  Army  of  Virginia, 
that  army,  according  to  his  report,  being  constituted  as  follows : 
First  Corps,  under  Major  General  Fremont;  second,  under  Major 
General  Banks  ;  third,  under  Major  General  McDowell.  In  addition 
to  these  three  corps,  a  small  and  unorganized  force,  under  Brigadier 
General  Sturgis,  was  posted  in  the  neighborhood  of  Alexandria,  and 
was  then  in  process  of  organization  for  field  service.  The  forces  in 
the  entrenchments  around  Washington  were  also  placed  under  his 
command.  All  the  disposable  movable  force  consisted  of  the  three 
corps  first  named.  Their  effective  strength  of  infantry  and  artillery, 
as  reported  to  him,  was  as  follows :  Fremont's  corps,  eleven 
thousand  five  hundred  strong ;  Banks'  corps,  reported  at  fourteen 
thousand  five  hundred,  but,  in  reality,  only  about  eight  thousand  ; 


198  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

McDowell's  corps,  eighteen  thousand  five  hundred,  making  a  total 
of  thirty-eight  thousand  men. 

The  cavalry  numbered  about  five  thousand  men  for  duty,  but 
most  of  it  was  badly  mounted  and  armed,  and  in  poor  condition  for 
service.  These  forces  were  scattered  over  a  wide  district,  not 
within  supporting  distance  of  each  other,  and  many  of  the  brigades 
and  divisions  badly  organized  and  ineffective.  According  to  Pope's 
report,  from  which  I  take  this  estimate,  thus  far  verbatim, —  this  was 
particularly  the  case  with  the  corps  of  Major  General  Fremont,  a 
sad  report  of  which  was  made  by  General  Sigel  when  he  relieved 
General  Fremont  in  its  command. 

Gen.  Pope's  first  labors  were  directed  toward  the  re-organization 
of  some  of  the  brigades  and  regiments  of  that  corps,  and  supplying 
the  whole  of  the  force  with  requisites  for  effective  service  in  the  field. 

Banks  and  Fremont  lay  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah, 
between  Winchester  and  Middletown,  the  bulk  of  their  forces  being 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  latter  place ;  one  division  (Rickett's)  ot 
McDowell's  corps  lay  at  Manassas  Junction,  with  its  advance  thrown 
forward  to  Catlett's  Station;  the  other  (King's)  was  posted 
opposite  Fredericksburg. 

McCalPs  division,  of  our  corps,  sent  to  aid  McClellan,  had 
embarked  on  the  tenth  of  June,  and  within  three  days  joined  him  on 
the  Chickahominy,  taking  an  active  part  in  all  that  followed. 

The  wish  of  the  Government,  that  he  should  "  cover  the  city  of 
Washington  from  any  attack  from  the  direction  of  Richmond,  make 
such  dispositions  as  were  necessary  to  assure  the  safety  of  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah,  and  at  the  same  time  so  operate  upon  the 
enemy's  line  of  communication  in  the  direction  of  Gordonsville  and 
Charlottesville  as  to  draw  off,  if  possible,  a  considerable  force  of  the 
enemy  from  Richmond,  and  thus  relieve  the  operations  against  that 
city,  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,"  Gen.  Pope  immediately  prepared 
to  carry  into  effect. 

Gen  McDowell  was  now  in  command  at  Fredericksburg,  and 
one  regiment,  the  y6th  New  York,  had  been  sent  over  to  guard  and 
patrol  the  city.  Thus  we  were  relieved  from  picket  duty  for  a  time. 
Gen.  Patrick  was  determined  to  employ  this  interval  to  the  best 
advantage,  and,  regardless  of  the  intense  heat,  we  were  drilled 
almost  to  the  limit  of  endurance.  No  one  of  us  doubts,  now,  that 
the  discipline  of  Camp  Rufus  King  was  just  what  we  needed,  and 
of  unestimable  value  in  fitting  us  to  endure  the  fatigue  and  meet  the 
emergencies  of  the  coming  time  of  trial,  the  bloody  autumn  of  1862; 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  199 

neither  can  any  of  us  forget  the  blinding  heat  of  those  July  days, 
when  the  very  turf  seemed  to  smoke  and  crisp  beneath  our  feet,  and 
we  toiled  through  complicated  evolutions  in  brigade  and  batallion, 
while  the  sun  wheeled  his  batteries  into  position  and  poured  down 
upon  our  devoted  heads  a  merciless  fire  at  his  shortest  range,  and 
no  cloud  squadrons  interposed  their  flying  masses  to  relieve  us. 

But  when  cool  evening  came,  with  its  quiet  lull,  after  parade, 
when  our  day's  work  was  done,  and  the  dew  fell  upon  the  parched 
ground,  the  delights  of  the  hour  made  amends  for  the  fatigues  oi 
the  day. 

Friday,  the  4th  of  July,  was  hailed  by  us  with  a  new  ardor,  a 
new  reverence,  born  of  fiery  trial  and  threatened  wreck  to  all  those 
dearly  bought  and  cherished  associations  whose  birth-hour  returned 
with  the  day,  and  with  a  chastened  dependence  upon  the  promises 
of  Him  whose  justice  will  not  see  the  righteous  forsaken.  There 
was  joy,  too,  in  this  return  of  the  time-honored  day  and  its 
recollections  of  former  jubilees,  and  the  thought  of  our  dear  ones 
at  home  renewing  them,  and  glorying  in  the  successes  of  the 
descendants  of  those  sires  who  fix  the  day  in  its  immortal  place  upon 
the  nation's  history.  Little  we  thought  that  even  then  fate  was 
preparing  for  us  a  bitter  blow,  and  in  our  gladness  we  already 
seemed  to  hold  the  certainty  of  triumph  within  our  reach,  and 
looked  upon  the  hours  that  stood  between  as  already  numbered.  I 
remember  that  the  burden  of  the  speeches  to  which  we  listened  on 
that  day  was  the  almost  certainty  that  our  victorious  van  had 
already  entered  the  rebel  capital,  and  upon  that  we  built  the  chiefest 
glory  of  our  rejoicings. 

A  stand  for  the  speakers,  beautifully  decorated  and  canopied 
with  boughs  of  the  "evergreen  pine" — the  tree  of  the  North,  and 
chosen  by  our  hardy  ancestors  as  the  fittest  symbol  for  freedom's 
standard  —  had  risen  at  sunrise  upon  a  gentle  eminence  to  the  left 
of  our  drill  ground.  At  nine  the  four  regiments  of  the  brigade  drew 
up  around  it,  each  in  hollow  square,  presenting  its  front  to  the 
stand,  which  had  been  draped  with  the  storm  flags  of  the  brigade. 
Prayer  was  offered  by  the  Chaplain  of  the  2Oth,  and  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  read  by  our  own,  and  then  followed  the 
speeches.  Our  General,  the  Colonels  of  the  brigade,  others  of  the 
officers,  and  a  few  of  our  visitors  took  part.  The  speeches  were 
brief,  but  excellent,  and  with  a  point.  Capt.  Hayward  made  his  in 
the  following  bit  of  experience,  which  he  related  in  a  manner 
impossible  to  render  by  any  orthographical  effort  however  cunning. 


200  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

He  had  been,  he  said,  one  of  a  court-martial  on  duty  at 
headquarters,  lately,  for  the  trial  of  various  offenders  against 
military  laws.  Among  these  was  an  Irishman,  a  private  in  a 
neighboring  regiment,  charged  with  having  lain  violent  hands  upon 
his  Sergeant,  and  resisting  him  in  the  exercise  of  his  duty.  The 
Sergeant  himself  appeared  in  court  with  his  face  fancifully 
variegated  and  patched,  one  eye  in  mourning,  and  other  evidences 
of  the  hardness  of  Pat's  knuckles.  Being  allowed  to  tell  his  story, 
Pat  related  how,  having  been  on  guard  the  day  before,  he  was 
taking  the  rest  allowed  by  the  regulations,  and  having  a  quiet  game 
of  "  ould  sledge"  with  a  comrade,  when,  says  Pat,  "Up  comes 
Sargent  Delaney,  yer  Honors.  An'  he  says  to  me,  says  he, 
'  Pathrick  O'Flanagan,  fall  in  fur  dhrill.'  An'  thin  I  says  to  him, 
says  I,  'Sargent  Delaney,  I'll  not  fall  in.' 

"An'  thin,  yer  Honors,  he  knocks  the  keerds  from  me  hand, 
an'  he  says,  says  he,  'Pathrick  O'Flanagan,  wud  ye  fall  in  fur 
dhrillf  An'  I  sthands  up,  an'  I  says  to  him,  says  I,  'Sargent 
Delaney,  I'll  not  fall  in  fur  dhrill ! '  An'  thin,  yer  Honors,  he  knocks 
me  down. 

"  An'  thin,  I  stands  up  forninst  him,  an'  I  says  to  him,  says  I, 
'  Sargent  Delaney,  do  yees  mane  that  ?'  An'  thin,  yer  Honors,  he 
knocks  me  down  again. 

"  An'  I  says  to  him  the  second  time,  says  I,  '  Sargent  Delaney, 
do  yees  MANE  that?'  An'  thin,  yer  Honors,  HE  KNOCKS  ME  DOWN 
AGAIN  !  An'  thin, —  I  bate  him,  yer  Honors." 

Captain  Hayward  told  his  story  in  connection  with  a  review  ol 

the  relation  between  North  and  South,  which  had  led  to  the  war. 

t 

Again  and  again,  he  said,  the  North  had  come  meekly  up  to  the 
mark,  to  ask  of  some  distard  blow,  "  do  you  mean  that?"  and  again 
and  again  the  blow  had  been  repeated,  until  forbearance  ceased  to 
be  a  virtue,  and  at  last  the  South,  like  "  Sargent  Delaney,"  came  in 
for  a  "  bating,"  and  a  good  one  we  would  make  it,  too. 

The  Captain  was  often  interrupted  by  cheers  and  laughter,  and, 
"  Sargent  Delaney,  do  you  mean  that?"  became  one  of  the  by- words 
of  the  camp. 

Poor  Hayward !     That  was  the  last  "  speech  "  he  ever  made. 

In  the  evening  we  had  quite  a  display  of  fireworks,  and  military 
dignity  unbent  while  we  enjoyed  a  frolic  that  taps,  after  several 
persistent  repetitions,  could  hardly  silence. 

The  following  letter  we  cut  from  the  Buffalo  Courier : 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  2OI 

CAMP  RUFUS  KING,  July  22,  1862. 

King's  division  lies  quietly  on  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock,  ready  to  move 
at  an  hour's  notice,  in  whichever  direction  its  services  may  be  required.  Occasionally 
it  stretches  out  its  feelers  in  the  shape  of  a  regiment  or  a  squadron  of  cavalry  to  scour 
the  country,  and  watch  the  approaches.  Stonewall  Jackson,  it  is  said,  is  bent  on 
making  another  demonstration  on  Washington,  and  our  Generals  are  on  the  qui  vive, 
and  seem  to  think  that  he  will  make  his  appearance  on  his  old  stamping  ground. 
Should  he  attempt  another  raid  in  that  direction,  I  fancy  he  will  find  more  formidable 
obstructions  than  stone  walls  to  check  his  progress. 

A  few  days  since  General  King  sent  out  the  Harris  Light  Cavalry  to  make  a 
dash  at  a  station  known  as  Beaver  Dam,  on  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  Richmond,  where  the  rebels  were  said  to  have  a  depot.  The 
expedition  was  entirely  successful.  Marching  all  night,  the  cavalry  reached  the  place 
early  in  the  morning,  tore  up  the  railroad  track,  and  destroyed  a  large  amount  of 
commissary  stores,  capturing  the  officers  in  charge  and  several  privates,  returning 
without  the  loss  of  a  man.  I  am  constrained  to  believe  that  the  cavalry  force  of  the 
Army  of  Virginia  will  be  kept  more  actively  employed  than  formerly.  It  iright  be 
made  very  useful  in  cutting  off  the  communication  that  is  kept  up  by  the  rebel  leaders 
and  their  friends  within  our  lines.  Mails  are  received  at  Frederickburg  from 
Richmond  two  or  three  timt-s  a  week,  and  Richmond  papers  have  been  received 
there  less  than  forty  eight  hours  old.  I  apprehend  that  Jeff.  Davis  himself  would 
find  little  difficulty  in  reaching  Washington  via  Fredericksburg.  It  is  easy  to  see 
that  the  emissaries  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  can  pass  through  our  lines  and  take 
the  European  steamers  without  difficulty. 

Patrick's  brigade  is  encamped  about  two  miles  from  the  river,  and  as  far  from 
the  rest  of  the  division.  The  location  is  pleasant  and  healthful.  The  transfer  of 
General  Augur  to  the  First  Corps  gives  tin's  brigade  the  right,  and  the  Twenty-First 
Regiment  the  head  and  front  of  the  division.  Orders  were  received  some  time  since 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  an  hour's  notice,  and  thus  are  we  hanging  by  the  eyelids, 
expecting  every  hour  to  hear  the  bugle  note  to  strike  tents,  and  now  no  one  knows 
whither.  These  orders,  however,  are  not  allowed  to  interfere  with  our  military 
duties  and  keep  us  in  idle  expectancy.  The  brigade  and  battalion  drills  are  continued 
morning  and  evening.  A  review  and  inspection  takes  place  regularly  every  Sunday 
morning. 

We  are  watching  with  much  interest  the  response  of  the  loyal  States  to  the 
recent  call  for  additional  troops.  That  they  are  wanted  there  is  no  doubt,  and  that 
speedily;  but  it  seems  to  me  the  regiments  already  in  the  field  should  be  filled  up 
before  creating  new  ones.  Raw  recruits  soon  become  good  soldiers  by  being 
associated  with  those  who  have  seen  some  service,  and  they  almost  insensibly  fall  into 
those  habits  which  months  of  the  severest  discipline  will  fail  to  promote.  This 
brigade,  which  ought  to  have  four  thousand  men  for  duty,  does  not  muster  more  than 
half  that  number.  There  are  now  on  detached  service  from  it  over  seven  hundred 
men.  Many  of  these  have  been  detailed  to  serve  in  the  batteries,  some  have  gone 
into  the  cavalry,  others  in  the  Western  gunboat  service.  Disease,  death,  and  those 
discharged  for  disability,  have  thinned  the  ranks  of  the  old  regiments,  and  they  ought 
to  be  filled  by  recruits  immediately  or  consolidated. 


202  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

The  South  is  paying  dearly  for  having  forced  this  unnatural  war  upon  the 
country.  Famine  and  pestilence  must  soon  follow  on  its  desolating  track.  Seed 
time  and  harvest  have  passed,  and  the  planter  finds  his  barns  empty.  The  standing 
grain  has  rotted  in  the  field  for  the  want  of  hands  to  gather  it  in.  Oh  ye  who  live  in 
the  quiet  of  your  peaceful  homes,  with  all  the  comforts  of  life  within  your  reach,  and 
know  little  of  the  horrors  of  war,  strengthen  our  ranks  if  you  would  have  us  stand 
between  you  and  an  earnest,  determined  foe.  Rely  not  with  too  much  confidence  on 
the  ability  of  the  army  to  beat  back  the  hordes  that  are  arrayed  against  us.  Every 
able-bodied  man  in  the  South  is  in  arms,  and  they  are  terribly  in  earnest. 

Not  so  with  us.  Our  policy,  hitherto,  has  been  to  conciliate  rather  than  destroy 
our  foe,  and  as  we  advance,  looking  upon  the  inhabitants  as  friends  and  allies  until 
they  prove  themselves  to  be  enemies.  We  have  been  deluded  into  the  belief  that 
there  is  a  strong  Union  sentiment  in  the  revolted  States.  It  may  be  so,  but  it  is  very 
slow  in  manifesting  itself.  Few,  indeed,  have  the  courage  to  come  out  boldly  and 
sustain  the  Government,  while  the  vast  majority  do  not  hesitate  to  proclaim  their 
preference  for  the  Southern  Confederacy.  The  mass  of  the  population  are  ignorant 
to  a  degree  that  is  startling  to  a  Northerner.  It  knows  little  that  transpires  in  the 
world  beyond  its  immediate  circle.  It  believes  implicitly  all  that  is  told  it  by  the 
leading  spirits  of  the  neighborhood.  The  very  dialect  of  the  mass  betrays  its 
ignorance  —  differing  in  no  respect  from  that  used  by  the  slaves.  And  yet  these  men 
are  told  that  the  Northern  mechanic  and  laboring  man  ranks  no  higher  in  the  scale 
of  civilization  than  the  negro,  and  that  it  is  the  yoke  of  these  Northern  mechanics  and 
laborers  that  they  are  fighting  to  throw  off. 

Our  policy  of  conducting  the  war  is  to  be  changed.  It  is  time.  We  are  in  the 
enemy's  country,  and  those  who  inhabit  it  should  be  treated  as  enemies  until  they 
yield  prompt  obedience  to  the  Government.  But  it  is  time  to  close,  as  the  mail  leaves 
in  a  few  minutes.  More  anon. 

X. 

On  Sunday,  July  27th,  after  parade,  the  brigade  was  assembled 
around  an  old  oak  on  the  right  of  our  line  of  encampment,  for  church 
service.  It  was  the  last  time  our  unbroken  lines  ever  would  gather 
at  the  Chaplain's  call,  though  we  little  thought  at  the  time  that  such 
was  the  fact.  It  was  in  the  cool  and  stillness  of  the  evening,  the 
setting  sun  was  hid  behind  the  woods,  and  a  gentle  breeze  fluttered 
the  leaves  of  the  Chaplain's  prayer  book,  while  he  read  the  words 
of  hope,  listened  to  by  many  who  would  never  listen  again,  and  who 
might  well  treasure  them  against  the  coming  hour  when  earth  should 
lose  its  hold. 

The  General  rose,  as  often  before,  and  again  we  heard  his  voice 
raised  in  solemn  warning.  He  told  us  that  we  might  never  again 
meet  thus,  as  a  brigade,  that  it  might  be  his  last  chance  to  speak, 
and  ours  to  listen;  and  then  he  bade  each  hearken  to  the  still  small 
voice  in  his  own  heart,  and  prepared  for  that  which  follows  death „ 
He  told  us,  too,  how  noble  it  were  to  die  for  man's  good  upon  the: 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  203 

battle  field,  and  begged  that  none  might,  in  dying  thus  gloriously, 
forget  his  own  salvation. 

Twilight  fell  while  still,  with  hushed  breath,  we  listened,  and 
then,  when  he  had  ended,  one  of  his  aids  rose  to  read  the  hymn  ;  but 
his  voice  faltered. 

"  Give  me  the  book,"  said  Patrick,  and  with  his  deep  tones  full 
of  the  believer's  fervor,  he  read  the  hymn  beginning, 

Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee. 

And  a  thousand  voices  rising  on  the  evening  air,  told  the  woods 
and  hills  how  Christian  soldiers  prepared  for  the  clay  of  battle. 

Perhaps,  at  that  moment,  some  valley  only  a  few  miles  away, 
heard  voices  as  earnest  in  devotion,  raised  by  hearts  as  true  and 
faithful  as  any,  but  whose  prayers  to  heaven,  if  heard  would  make 
ours  of  no  avail.  So  it  must  ever  be  until  millennial  light  dawns 
upon  earth,  and  truth  stands  revealed  to  all  its  children  alike. 

Next  morning  at  six,  we  broke  camp,  and,  for  the  third  time, 
crossed  the  river,  pitching  our  tents  again  at  our  old  encampment 
on  the  poplar  crowned  hill  of  the  reservoir.  This  time  our  brigade 
alone  held  Fredericksburg,  and  the  Twenty- First  was  immediately 
sent  out  on  picket  duty,  this  time  establishing  the  line  somewhat  in 
advance  of  the  old  one,  from  the  plank  road  to  the  South,  and  the 
right  and  left  wings  doing  duty  alternately. 

On  the  5th  day  of  August,  a  large  force,  artillery,  infantry  and 
all  the  cavalry  of  our  division,  made  a  demonstration  upon  the  line 
of  the  enemy's  railroad  communication  between  Richmond  and 
Gordonsville,  which  they  succeeded  in  cutting.  While  this  was 
being  accomplished,  one  of  the  supply  trains  following  the 
expedition  was  attacked  by  guerrilla  cavalry  and  taken,  while  too 
far  in  the  rear  to  be  protected.  Immediately  upon  hearing  of  this, 
Col.  Rogers  sent  out  "  B  "  and  "  D  "  on  the  Bowling  Green  road,  to 
the  scene  of  action. 

Companies  "  C  "  and  "  I  "  were  sent  out  on  the  6th  to  escort  a 
supply  train  for  Hatch's  brigade.  They  took  different  routes,  "  C  ' 
with  part  of  the  train  going  out  on  the  telegraph  road,  and  "  I  "  with 
the  remainder  of  the  wagons,  going  towards  Spottsylvania.  While 
crossing  the  Po  river  near  three  in  the  afternoon,  "  C,"  under 
command  of  Captain  Washburn  and  Lieutenant  Remington,  was 
attacked  by  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  had,  as 


204  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

they  said,  quite  a  lively  little  time,  succeeded  at  last  in  driving-  back 
the  enemy,  and  saving-  the  train. 

Tired  and  hot,  they  had  halted,  a  little  in  advance  of  the  train, 
at  the  river,  which  is  here  quite  narrow,  for  rest  and  refreshments, 
both  of  the  inner  and  outer  man.  Some  were  seated  under  the  trees 
investigating  the  contents  of  their  haversacks,  and  beginning  to 
transfer  said  contents  to  a  more  secure  receptable,  while  others  were 
enjoying  the  luxury  of  a  bath  in  the  rocky  bottomed  stream,  and 
innocently  disporting  in  its  lucid  waves.  The  last  three  wagons  of 
the  train  and  an  ambulance  with  a  sick  soldier  bringing  up  the  rear, 
were  descending  the  hill  behind.  This  sick  soldier  has  his  musket 
with  him,  and  suddenly  he  brings  it  to  his  shoulder  and  blazes  away 
at  a  "solitary  horseman"  who  has  just  unconsciously  turned  into 
the  road  in  the  rear  and  very  near  the  ambulance.  The  midday 
echoes  reply  drowsily,  the  solitary  horseman  curses  and  "  clattawa's  " 
up  the  road  as  though  suddenly  impressed  with  the  idea  that 
somebody  is  hooking  his  dinner,  over  the  hill,  and  on  the  bank,  the 
nice  little  party  thus  rudely  disturbed  are  huddling  their  duds 
together  and  falling  in.  Down  came  the  wagons  at  top  speed. 
Remington  with  a  few  files  is  already  half  up  the  hill,  and  deploying 
them  as  skirmishers,  while  the  rest  are  forming  and  preparing  for 
action.  The  skirmishers  reach  the  top,  each  levels  his  piece 
instantly  and  fires,  and  then  all  turn  and  run  down  again,  loading  as 
they  come.  Washburn  is  moving  rapidly  up  with  his  reserves,  a 
few  are  still  struggling  wildly  with  their  clothes,  and  hurrying  up  in 
the  rear  to  reach  their  places  in  line,  and  one,  reduced  to  the  barest 
of  extremities,  rushes  frantically  along  with  his  don't-mention-em's 
in  one  hand  and  his  musket  in  the  other,  ever  and  anon  making 
spasmodic  but  unsuccessful  efforts  to  "put  his  foot  in  it,"  without 
being  at  the  same  time  left  behind.  Half  up  the  hill  the  retiring 
and  advancing  forces  meet,  combime,  and  form  for  action  A 
moment  of  suspense,  and  over  the  hill  they  come ;  first  a  long  line 
of  glancing  sabres  and  waving  arms,  then  a  row  of  slouchy  hats  and 
brown  faces,  which  open  and  give  vent  to  a  volley  of  screeches,  and 
simultaneously  the  heads  and  tossing  manes,  and  then  the  bodies  of 
their  steeds.  From  our  little  line,  which  is  disposed  to  the  best 
advantage  the  ground  affords,  a  rattling  welcome  greets  them, 
replied  by  their  carbines  and  revolvers.  The  front  rank  of  horsemen 
breaks,  right  and  left,  a  few  steeds  plunging  riderless  away ;  the 
next  delivers  its  fire  and  whirls  back,  and  then  the  next ;  but  no 
nearer  do  they  come  than  just  in  neat  range  for  the  little 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  205 

Spring-fields,  which  are  popping  away  in  the  grass  and  behind  the 
trees  like  a  full  grown  Fourth  of  July,  and  by  and  by  they  forget  to 
come  up  at  all. 

The  wagons  are  safe  in  front,  and  so  is  the  irrepressible  sick 
man  who  fired  that  first  shot ;  and  our  only  loss  is  that  of  one 
team-horse  shot  through  while  crossing  the  stream  and  tinging  its 
current  with  his  blood.  Only  one  man,  Joseph  Sauer,  was  wounded, 
and  he  not  seriously.  Thus  ended  the  battle  of  the  Po.  Victory 
perched  upon  our  banners.  The  "  insulting  foe  "  had  tried  Company 
"  C  "  and  had  not  found  them  wanting,  and  Adonis  was  inexpressibly 
satisfied  at  getting  his  walkers  once  more  safely  into  the  light  blue. 

Company  "  B  "  and  "  D,"  on  the  night  of  the  5th,  reached  the 
valley  of  the  Massaponax,  where  we  found  the  bridge  crossing  that 
stream  a  smoking  pile  of  timbers.  About  a  mile  farther,  after 
deploying  and  advancing  in  line  as  skirmishers  for  some  distance 
through  the  woods  and  fields,  we  were  ordered  back,  and  lay  that 
night  at  a  farm  upon  the  telegraph  road.  Next  morning  we 
marched  back,  joining  "  C"  on  the  way,  greeting  them  boisterously 
and  looking  with  immense  respect  and  envy  upon  these  fellows  who 
had  seen  a  fight,  and  who  bore  their  honors  so  modestly.  We  had 
learned  the  particulars  of  the  affair  from  the  solitary  wounded  man, 
who  passed  us  in  an  ambulance  some  hours  before. 

Burnside,  with  his  army,  from  North  Carolina,  had  arrived 
August  4th,  and  on  the  8th  they  crossed  the  river,  and  the  ygth  N. 
Y.  V.  (Highlanders),  came  up  to  relieve  us.  We  had  received 
good  large  tents  two  days  before,  and  had  just  finished  laying  out  a 
fine  camp  and  making  ourselves  comfortable  for  a  long  stay  or  a 
short  one,  as  luck  pleased,  and,  of  course,  after  the  pains  we  had 
taken  it  was  sure  to  be  the  latter. 

However,  the  "  Highland  laddies  "  fully  appreciated  our  labors, 
and  we  solaced  ourselves  with  the  thought  that  we  were  perhaps 
leaving  inactivity  and  ennui  to  them  while  we  took  our  turn  in 
the  field. 

Our  time  had  indeed  come,  and  here  ends  the  period  of  our 
probation,  so  wearisome  and  prolonged.  With  our  next  chapter 
begins  the  record  of  the  "  bloody  autumn,"  and  as  a  fitting  period 
to  this,  we  give  the  following  recapitulation  of  the  changes  thus  far 
made  in  the  Twenty- First : 

The  regiment,  at  this  time,  numbered  about  six  hundred  men  for  duty.  Various 
changes  had  been  made  in  the  positions  of  the  companies,  in  line,  as  resignations  and 
promotions  made  one  or  another  the  senior  captain  of  the  regiments ;  and  at  this  time 


206  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

41  H  "  under  Captain  Hayward,  held  the  right,  "  K,"  Captain  Layton,  the  left,  and 
•"  F,"  Captain  Clinton,  was  the  color  company  of  the  regiment;  Win.  H.  Drew  had 
been  promoted  from  Major  to  Lieut. -Colonel,  May  6th,  1862,  and  Horace  G.  Thomas 
from  Captain  Company  "I"  to  Major,  same  date;  Lieut.-Colonel  Adrian  R.  Root 
had  been  transferred  by  promotion  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  94th  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  May 
5th,  1862. 

Company  "  A1'  was  still  commanded  by  Captain  Robert  P.  Gardner,  with  Levi 
Vallier  and  John  E.  Ransom  as  first  and  second  lieutenants,  the  last  named  officer 
receiving  his  promotion  about  the  time  of  our  leaving  Fredericksburg.  At  this  time 
the  company  had  lost  none  of  its  members  by  death.  One  man,  George  W.  Morgan, 
who  was  transferred  to  the  gunboat  Mound  City,  in  the  winter  of  1 86 1,  was  killed 
in  action  on  board  that  vessel  on  the  i8th  day  of  June,  1862.  Nine  men  had  been 
honorably  discharged.  William  Munro  had  been  transferred  to  Company  "  E," 
September  loth,  1861,  and  Joseph  M.  Estabrook  to  band,  October  1st,  1861  ; 
seventeen  men  had  deserted,  whose  names  will  be  found  in  the  muster  out  rolls  which 
close  this  history. 

Captain  Henry  Gaylord,  of  "  B,"  resigned  his  commission  August  9th,  1862,  and 
Lieut.  Algar  M.  Wheeler  was  promoted  to  the  command  instead  ;  James  J.  McLiesh 
and  John  W.  Davock  were  at  the  same  time  commissioned  as  First  and  Second 
Lieutenants.  The  company  had  been  reduced  by  the  following  numbers;  eleven  men 
honorably  discharged,  two  deserted,  and  four  deceased  —  Sergeant  Egbert  B. 
Wallace,  who  died  November  3d,  1861,  and  whose  death  has  been  previously  spoken 
of;  John  Savage,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  July  1 9th,  1861  ;  Garrett  B. 
Lockwood,  also  of  typhus,  at  Fredericksburg,  May  8th,  1862;  and  Warren  Lowry 
of  the  same,  and  at  the  same  place,  June  3Oth,  1862.  The  following  transfers,  not 
previously  mentioned,  had  been  made  ;  Charles  H.  Bidwell  to  be  2d  Lieutenant  49th 
N.  Y.  S.  V.;  Greig  H.  Mulligan,  to  be  2tl  Lieutenant  goth  N.  Y.  S.  V.;  Henry 
H.  Halsey  to  be  2cl  Lieutenant  in  Company  "K,"  of  "ours,"  April  29th,  1862. 
These  promotions  were  all  well  deserved,  and  that  especially  of  Lieutenant  Halsey,  in 
our  own  regiment,  gave  general  satisfaction. 

In  Company  "C"  more  changes  had  been  made.  Captain  Washburn  was  still 
in  command;  1st  Lieutenant  Allan  M.  Adams  had  been  promoted  to  the  captaincy 
of  Company  "  E,"  December  1 7th,  1861,  and  Lieutenant  George  L.  Remington  was 
commissioned  in  his  place  on  the  same  day;  Morris  H.  Alberger  had  been  made  2d 
Lieutenant  at  the  same  time,  being  promoted  from  Sergeant  Major,  but  from  his 
having  resigned,  Sergeant  George  Hurst  was  promoted  to  the  2d  Lieutenancy,  May 
2Oth,  1862 ;  Lieutenant  John  Canfield  had  been  transferred  to  Company  "I,"  August 
7th,  1861 ;  nineteen  men  had  been  honorably  discharged,  four  had  deserted,  none 
had  died.  The  following  transfers  had  been  made  :  Private  Horace  Dunlap  to  be 
Captain  5oth  Illinois  Volunteers.  September  1st,  1861 ;  private  Charles  Lanagan  to 
Company  "  K,"  2ist  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  September  1st,  1861;  private  Charles  O.  Shepard 
to  be  2d  Lieutenant  82d  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  March  1st;  Sergeant  Harrison  Wells  to  be  2d 
Lieutenant  78th  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  May  2oth  ;  and  private  Robert  E.  Pomeroy  to  Company 
"  E,"  2ist  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  July  ist,  1862. 

Company  "D"  was  in  command  of  Captain  George  M.  Baker,  Alberger  having 
been  promoted  to  Lieut.-Colonel,  and  transferred  to  49th  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  September 
22cl,  1861.  Lieutenants  Byron  Schermerhorn  and  Henry  C.  Beebee  were 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  207 

commissioned  at  the  same  time.  Eighteen  men  had  been  honorably  discharged,  four 
had  deserted,  and  one  —  Abner  W.  Chase  —  had  died,  April  2d,  1862.  The 
following  transfers  were  made ;  Captain  Wm.  C.  Alberger  and  Lieutenant  William 
F.  Wheeler,  the  former  to  be  Lieut.-Colonel  and  the  latter  Captain  in  49th  N.  Y.  S. 
V.,  September  22d  and  October  1st,  1861  ;  Morris  H.  Alberger  promoted  to  Sergeant- 
Major,  and  then  2d  Lieutenant  Company  "  B ;  "  John  A.  Barney  to  be  2d  Lieutenant 
Company  "  F,"  June,  1862;  Sergeant  Daniel  H.  Blatchford  to  Company  "  K,"  May 
1st,  1862;  William  H.  Devening  to  Company  "  B," — date  not  recorded;  Orville 
S.  Dewey  to  be  2d  Lieutenant  49th  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  May  2oth,  1862;  Oliver  C. 
Houghton  to  be  Lieutenant  25th  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  October  29th,  1861 ;  Henry  G.  Lansing 
to  be  2d  Lieutenant  Company  "  K,"  August  3d,  1861 ;  James  E.  Mackay  to  be 
Lieutenant  in  63d  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  December  6th,  1861  ;  Stanley  Porter  to  Company 
"I, "March  ist,  1862;  Willet  H.  Fargo 'to  be  Sergeant- Major  2ist,  February  1st, 
1862;  and  William  Porter  to  49th  N.  Y  S.  V.,  November  ist,  1861. 

Captain  Allan  M.  Adams  was  in  command  of  Company  "  E,"  Captain  James 
C.  Strong  having  been  appointed  Lieut.-Colonel  and  transferred  to  38th  N.  Y.  S.  V., 
November  ist,  1861;  Charles  E.  Efner  was  1st  and  William  L.  Whitney  2d 
Lieutenant,  the  latter  having  been  promoted  from  Sergeant,  November  1st,  1861. 
Twelve  men  had  been  honorably  discharged,  three  had  deserted,  and  the  following 
had  died;  George  A.  Hamlin,  March  I3th;  Franklin  Steiver,  April  iyth;  Godfrey 
Hermann,  July  22d;  and  Edward  Cook,  August  5th,  1862.  Lieutenant  Thomas 
Sloan  had  resigned,  November  1st,  1861.  The  following  transfers  had  been  made: 
Captain  James  C.  Strong  as  above ;  Corporal  George  Peterson  to  be  2d  Lieutenant 
Ii6th  N.  Y.  S.  V. —  date  not  recorded  ;  and  sixteen  others  were  transferred  in  arrest 
to  the  Rip  Raps,  by  order  of  General  McDowell,  August  2Oth,  1861. 

Company  "F"  was  still  commanded  by  Captain  George  D.  W.  Clinton,  with 
John  A.  Barney  as  ist  and  Samuel  McMurray  as  2d  Lieutenant,  ist  Lieutenant 
Thomas  B.  Wright  had  resigned,  June  I5th,  1862,  and  2d  Lieutenant  Samuel  P.  Gail 
had  been  transferred  to  "K"  Company,  with  rank  of  ist  Lientenant,  April  29th, 
1862.  Seventeen  men  had  been  honorably  discharged,  two  had  deserted,  and  two 
had  died  —  Charles  I.  Dutton,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Fredericksburg,  June  8th,  1862; 
and  John  Galhgan,  April  28th  of  the  same  year,  from  injuries  received  in  the  service. 
The  following  additional  transfers  had  been  made :  Albert  F.  Ransom,  to 
Quartermaster's  Department,  as  Quartermaster-Sergeant ;  Clark  Dodge,  to  same,  as 
Commissary-Sergeant;  David  L.  Aberdeen  to  "D"  Company;  and  Frederick  C. 
Parke  to  Battery  "  G,"  5th  U.  S.  Artillery. 

Company  "  G  "  had  but  few  changes  in  its  officers  to  this  date.  Captain  Edward 
L.  Lee  and  Lieutenants  Daniel  Myers  and  Jacob  E.  Bergtokl  had  retained  their 
places  since  the  organization  of  the  company.  Six  men  had  been  honorably 
discharged,  eight  had  deserted,  and  the  following  had  died  :  William  Mathews  and 
John  Layh,  of  hydrophobia,  in  August,  1861,  at  Fort  Runyo'n ;  and  John  Bump, 
August  2d,  1862,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  Camp  Patrick,  Fredericksburg.  The  following 
transfers  had  been  made:  Charles  Navel  to  be  Fife  Major  49th  N.  Y.  S.  V., 
September  1st,  1861  ;  Philip  Kepler  to  Company  "  D,"  October  2d,  1861  ;  \Yilliam 
H.  Sherman  to  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry. 

Company  "  H  "  still  retained  its  noble  Captain,  Elisha,L.  Hay  ward.  Lieutenants 
Samuel  Wilkeson  and  Hugh  Johnson  had  been  transferred,  the  former  to  Van  Allen 


208  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Cavalry,  October  ist,  1861,  the  latter  to  the  6th  U.  S.  Infantry,  August  2oth  of  the 
same  year.  Sergeant  Frederick  Minery  had  been  promoted  to  the  ist  Lieutenancy, 
May  6th,  1862;  and  Quartermaster-Sergeant  Peter  C.  Doyle  to  be  2d  Lieutenant, 
October  1st,  1861.  Six  men  had  been  discharged,  three  had  deserted,  and  three  had 
died  —  Corporal  Edward  Bowman,  near  Hunter's  Chapel,  December  26th,  1861 ;  and 
Sergeant  James  Cunningham,  at  Camp  Rufus  King,  July  ist,  1862.  Four  men  had 
been  sent  to  the  Rip  Raps,  August  2Oth,  1861,  and  one  had  been  dishonorably 
discharged. 

John  H.  Canfield  commanded  Company  "I,"  vice  Horace  G.  Thomas,  who  had 
been  appointed  Major,  May  5th,  1862.  James  S.  Mulligan  was  1st  and  Patrick 
Hickey  2d  Lieutenant.  Lieutenant  Abbott  C.  Calkins  had  been  transferred  to 
Company  "  K,"  June  1st;  and  Lieutenant  William  O.  Brown  had  resigned,  August 
yth,  1861.  Nine  men  had  been  honorably  discharged,  eleven  had  deserted,  and  two 
had  died  —  Frank  Aigne,  drowned  at  Elmira,  June  2d,  1861  ;  and  Christian  Hermann 
in  hospital  at  Washington,  July  3 1st,  1862.  John  W.  Comstock,  had  been  transferred 
to  "  K,"  January  2ist,  1862. 

Company  "K"  was  still  in  command  oi  Captain  John  M.  Layton,  with 
Lieutenants  Samuel  P.  Gail  and  Henry  H.  Halsey.  1st  Lieutenant  Augustus  N. 
Gillett  had  resigned,  August  1st,  1861.  Peter  C.  Doyle  had  been  appointed,  but 
received  no  commission.  Henry  Lansing  had  been  appointed  ist  Lieutenant  from 
the  ranks  of  "  D,"  his  commission  dating  from  the  resignation  of  Gillett;  he  resigned 
December,  1861.  Lieutenant  Abbott  C.  Calkins,  transferred  from  "  I,"  resigned 
April  29th,  1862.  2d  Lieutenant  John  Nicholson  resigned  August  6th,  1861.  James 
S.  Mulligan,  appointed  from  "  B  "  in  his  place,  was  transferred  to  "  I,"  January  ist, 
1862.  Sergeant  Henry  P.  Morse  was  promoted  to  the  vacancy,  and  resigned  April 
29th,  1862,  being  succeeded  by  Halsey.  Eight  men  had  been  honorably  discharged, 
one  had  deserted,  and  James  Wilson  died  at  Upton  Hill,  March  4th,  1862,  of 
congestion  of  the  lungs. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  recruits  received  since  leaving  Elmira: 

COMPANY  "A." — Sergeant  Francis  Myers,  December  I5th,  1862;  Corporal 
John  Schmidt,  September  28th,  1861  ;  James  Bell,  September  igth,  1861;  James 
Brown,  March  2gth,  1862;  Michael  Cauley,  September  2ist,  1861  ;  John  W.  Doney, 
September  I4th,  1861  ;  John  Heyer,  November  2oth,  1861  ;  Joseph  H.  Jones, 
September  I4th,  1861  ;  Michael  Kriffer,  September  igth,  1861  ;  Peter  Klein, 
September  I3th,  1861  ;  Jacob  A.  Langmyer,  September  25th,  1861  ;  Louis  J. 
Reichert,  February  I2th,  1862;  Peter  Bieber,  October  I4th,  1861  ;  Anthony  Dasher, 
September  nth,  1861  ;  Christian  Henry,  September  28th,  1861  ;  Stoughton  C.  Moore, 
October  lyth,  1861  ;  William  Munro,  September  loth,  1861  ;  William  R.  Bassett, 
November  1st,  1861 ;  Samuel  Brown,  February  I2th,  1862;  William  C.  Carter, 
September  i6th,  1861  ;  Josephus  Cheeney,  September  I4th,  1861  ;  George  Smith, 
September  loth  1861 ;  John  J.  Smith,  November  ist,  1861. 

COMPANY  "  B." — August  Bommell,  September  23d,  1861 ;  Michael  Broughton, 
April  5th,  1862;  Charles  A.  Buchanan,  November  4th,  1861 ;  Hugh  Donaldson, 
October  i8th,  1861  ;  Marvin  Luke,  September  I3th,  1861 ;  James  Mahar,  March 
3ist,  1862;  George  Meaner,  October  i8th,  1861  ;  Daniel  Morningstar,  September 
1 2th,  1 86 1  ;  Louis  Reihl,  September  I2th,  1861  ;  Orrin  Stickney,  November  4th, 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  2OQ 

1861;   Orson  Stone,  September  24th,    1861  ;    Edward  Van  Orman,    October    25th, 
1861  ;   Henry  M.  Hill,  November  230!,  1861. 

COMPANY  "  C." — Eugene  Dickinson,  September  I2th,  1861 ;  William  Fox, 
October  2ist,  1861  ;  Elbridge  O.  Gary,  October  i8th,  1861 ;  Ezra  C.  Hull,  November 
igth,  1861  ;  Willliam  McDonald,  November  7th,  1861 ;  Charles  Peterson,  October 
1 8th,  1861  ;  George  L.  Pantler,  March  igth,  1862;  John  Raleigh,  March  4th,  1862; 
James  G.  Remington,  October  i8th,  1862  ;  Reuben  A.  Scofield,  October  9th,  1861 ; 
Conrad  D.  Stabler,  September '1 2th,  1861  ;  John  G.  Suor,  February  igth,  1862; 
George  Tremper,  January  3d,  1862;  Francis  A.  Valentine,  September  nth,  1861  ; 
George  Williams,  September  I3th,  1861  ;  George  Yuncker,  March  loth,  1862;  Curtis 
W.  Rose,  October  22d,  1861  ;  Charles  R.  Peck,  November  igth,  1861  ;  William 
G.  Rice,  September  23d,  1861  ;  Lova  M.  Fuller,  November  2d,  1861  ;  Charles 
Kingman,  September  I4th,  1861. 

COMPANY  "  D." — Sydney  Foose,  April  5th,  1862;  Heman  Guild,  drummer, 
August  1st,  1861  ;  Benjamin  F.  Hemstreet,  September  I2th,  1861  ;  James  L.  Hill, 
September  28th,  1861 ;  Walter  B.  Hubbard,  Frank  Robinson,  William  B.  Taylor 
and  Burt  Woodworth,  September  I2th,  1861  ;  Michael  J.  Birsch,  October  3Oth, 
1 86 1  ;  William  R.  Deacon,  September  I2th,  1861  ;  Robert  W.  Deacon,  October  gth, 
1861  ;  Peter  Foster,  November  8th,  1861  ;  Reuben  Holden,  April  nth,  1862; 
George  N.  Merrill,  September  I2th,  1861  ;  Henry  C.  Stevens,  September  i6th,  1861  ; 
Almond  Welch,  April  3d,  1862;  John  Brazill,  September  I2th,  1861  ;  Michael 
J.  Coan,  September  I2th,  1861. 

COMPANY  "  E." —  Daniel  Barst,  December  i8th,  1861  ;  John  Moore,  November 
9th,  1861  ;  Benjamin  Adamy,  December  igih,  1861 ;  Lawton  D.  Bancroft,  April 
loth,  1862  ;  Homer  M.  Choate,  November  4th,  1861  ;  Henry  Howell,  January  2Oth, 
1862;  William  H.  Hause,  September  I3th,  1861;  Frederick  Krauthause,  March 
26th,  1862;  Jacob  Lanberger,  March  29th,  1862;  William  G.  Monroe,  September 
loth,  1862;  Jacob  Randall,  December  4th,  1861  ;  John  Hermann,  December  iSth, 
1861 ;  George  W.  Proctor,  September  loth,  1861  ;  Charles  Bertch,  April  loth,  1862; 
Wilder  Vantine,  November  I2th,  1861  ;  George  A.  Hamlin,  November  gth,  1861  ; 
Franklin  Steiver,  November  6th,  1861  ;  Godfrey  Hermann,  November  4th,  1861  ; 
Edward  Cook,  November  4th,  1861;  William  Chambers,  September  I7th,  1861  ; 
Byron  Chaffee,  November  5th,  1861  ;  Nathaniel  A.  Hewitt,  February  loth,  1862  ; 
Henry  Collingwood,  March  29th,  1862. 

COMPANY  "F." — Franklin  Averill,  Walter  E.  La  Montague,  James  R.  Lewis, 
John  G.  Mayer,  Milton  D.  Moon,  Alfred  Sweetapple,  Peter  Besor,  James  McCarty, 
James  Wilson,  William  W.  Bennett  and  George  Mauley,  all  on  September  2Oth,  1861. 

COMPANY  "  G." — George  E.  Cross,  February  8th,  1862  ;  Amos  Dacre,  February 
7th,  1862;  Sydney  Hall,  January  27th,  1862;  Philip  Hessinger,  September  24th, 
1861 ;  James  Hickmott,  January  3ist,  1862;  Henry  H.  Kinskey,  October  I5th  1861  ; 
William  Purcell,  February  4th,  1862;  Charles  W.  Myers,  September  loth,  1861. 

COMPANY  "  H." — Michael  Biller,  February  I2th,  1862;  Sanford  Freeman, 
September  loth,  1861  ;  George  Hewitt,  March  nth,  1862;  Joseph  E.  Peatc, 
February  28th,  1862;  William  Senff,  March  nth,  1862;  John  Trigg,  October 
nth,  1861. 

COMPANY  "I." — Edward  Irwin,  June  6th,  1861 ;  Joseph  Lasson,  October  2cl, 
1861  ;  Jacob  Hart,  June  I5th,  1862;  Frank  Knopp,  June  8th,  1862;  Adam  Keel, 


210  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

September   I3th,   1861  ;   Henry   Muncie,   September   gth,    1861  ;    C.   A.    Dougherty, 
October  iQth,  1861. 

COMPANY  "  K." — John  J.  Brush,  re-enlisted,  December  nth,  1861  ;  John 
Mutchinson,  January  8th,  1862;  Barney  Brennan,  January  I4th,  1862;  Philip 
Herbold,  drummer,  October  5th,  1861  ;  Alanson  Bulson,  October  pth,  1861  ;  Casper 
Bleiler,  September  25th,  1861  ;  Edward  V.  Babcock,  October  5th,  1861  ;  Marcus 
Fields,  October  yth,  1861 ;  Adam  Hutchinson,  January  I3th,  1862;  William  C. 
Hubble,  October  8th,  1861  ;  Joseph  Kerrin,  September  23d,  1861  ;  Wilbur  Mitchell, 
September  23d,  1861  ;  John  McKibbin,  October  5th,  1861;  Louis  J.  Ottenot,  July 
ist,  1861;  James  E.  Reed,  October  4th,  1861  ;  Joseph  Reed,  re-enlisted,  September 
23(1,  1861;  Albert  Zimmerman,  September  iQth,  1861  ;  Chauncey  B.  Mathewson, 
September  23d,  1861  ;  Jacob  Nubholz,  January  nth,  1862;  William  H.  Moore, 
October  igth,  1861 ;  Charles  Morselow,  October  5th,  1861  ;  Thomas  H.  Mahama, 
October  I4th,  1861  ;  James  Kelley,  September  8th,  1861  ;  Joseph  Prior,  October  4th, 
1 86 1  ;  Conrad  Klein,  October  I4th,  1861. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  211 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Again  "On  the  March."— Pope's  "Order  No.  5."— The  Ravages  of  War.— Battle  of  Cedar 
Mountain. —  "Too  Late,  as  usual." — A  Battle  Field  the  day  after. —  We  encamp  upon  the 
Mountain.—  Waiting  for  Orders  again. —  Dismal  Rumors. —  The  balance  trembles  :  Fate  decides 
against  us,  and  "up  we  go." — The  Storm  gathers. —  Night,  and  the  "  Retreat"  begins. 


ON  THE  9th  day  of  August,  King's  division  left  Fredericksburg 
to  join  its  corps  under  McDowell,  at  Culpepper,  where  the 
Army  of  Virginia  was  then  concentrating,  under  Pope. 

We  marched  at  five  in  the  morning,  by  the  plank  or  wilderness 
road,  pressing  on  rapidly,  although  the  morning  was  warm,  and 
reaching  Chancellorsville  near  noon.  Here  we  halted  to  await  the 
arrival  of  the  division.  The  knapsacks  had  been  carried  thus  far  in 
the  wagons  of  a  few  farmers,  who,  with  their  teams,  had  been 
pressed  into  the  Quartermaster's  service  for  the  day.  In  the 
afternoon,  heavy  firing  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  Culpepper,  and 
we  knew  that  bloody  work  was  going  on  in  that  quarter,  while  we 
chafed  at  the  delay  which  prevented  us  from  taking  a  part. 

In  the  night,  while  we  still  lay  here,  awaiting  our  orders  to 
move,  foraging  parties  were  sent  out  and  at  day-break  returned 
with  supplies  and  wagons  for  the  transportation  of  the  knapsacks. 

The  bugle  sounded  the  "fall  in"  at  five,  and  again  we  moved 
on  into  the  wilderness.  At  ten  we  reached  the  Rapidan  at  Germania 
Ford.  The  river  was  unusually  high,  but  we  forded  it  without 
mishap,  and  in  our  soaked  garments,  steaming  in  the  sun,  moved  on 
at  a  lively  pace.  The  route  through  the  wilderness  is  memorable 
for  its  wild  and  picturesque  roughness,  the  road  alternating  in 
painful  climbings  up  and  precipitate  descents,  full  of  immense 
boulders,  over  which  it  seemed  hardly  possible  for  the  wagons  and 
guns  to  pass,  and  here  and  there  a  stretch  of  bog  or  causeway, 
fringed  by  the  deepest  tangles  of  rank  undergrowth  where  the  frogs 
croaked  at  mid-day. 

Near  noon,  we  halted  to  rest  and  make  our  coffee,  expecting  to 
move  on  again  presently.  Then  we  were  ordered  to  wait  until  six, 
when  the  remainder  of  the  division  would  be  up  and  ready  to  move 


212  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

on  with  us.  Before  that  time  a  heavy  thunder  storm  came  up  and 
we  lay  "in  soak"  until  nine,  when  we  were  ordered  to  make 
ourselves  comfortable  for  the  night,  as  we  were  not  to  move  yet. 

Next  morning,  August  nth,  General  Hatch's  brigade  passed 
our  bivouac  at  sunrise,  and  we  immediately  followed.  That  day 
was  intensely  warm  and  we  made  few  pauses,  the  columns  seemed 
more  connected,  and  everything  indicated  our  approach  to  the 
scene  of  the  expected  conflict.  Rumors  of  the  battle  already  fought 
met  us  constantly,  with  various  estimates  of  advantage  gained  by 
our  forces,  but  all  agreeing  in  claiming  a  victory  for  us.  On  that 
day  we  began  to  see  the  practical  working  of  Pope's  "  Order  No. 
5  "  all  along  the  line  of  march. 

Horses  and  mules  had  been  appropriated  by  the  men  wherever 
found,  and  many  of  the  infantry  regiments  would  have  puzzled  a 
novice  in  deciding,  from  their  appearance,  what  arm  of  the  service 
they  belonged  to ;  half  of  the  men  being  mounted,  and  others 
leading  sumptor  horses  or  mules  upon  which  were  packed  all  the 
worldly  gear  of  entire  squads,  together  with  quantities  of  defunct 
fowls,  pigs  and  sheep,  destined  to  further  martyrdom  over  the 
evening's  camp  fire.  "  General  Order  No.  5 "  was  almost 
universally  misconstrued,  the  men  taking  it  as  a  "  carte  blanche," 
given  them  by  the  commander,  and  the  officers  overlooking  or 
favoring  the  abuses  that  resulted  from  such  an  indiscriminating 
license.  *  However,  in  our  own  brigade  the  evil  was  less  apparent, 
General  Patrick  having  explained  to  all  the  true  intention  of  the 
order,  and  directed  that  any  unauthorized  foraging  be  strictly 


*The  following  is  "  a  true  copy  "  of  this  famous  order,  which  exposed  General  Pope  to  so  much 
unmerited  censure  : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  VIRGINIA, 

WASHINGTON,  July  i8th,  1862. 
General  Orders  No.  5. 


Hereafter,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  troops  of  this  cornm; 
which  their  operations  are  carried  on.  In  all  cases  supplies 
department  they  properly  belong,  und-er  the  orders  of  the  comn 
use  they  are  intended.  Vouchers  will  be  given  to  the  owners, 
payable  at  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  upon  sufficient  testiinoi 


d  will  subsist  upon  the  country  in 
ill  be  taken  by  the  officers  to  whose 
nding  officer  of  the  troops  for  whose 
tating  on  their  face  that  they  will  be 
'  being  furnished  that  such  owners 


have  been  loyal  citizens  of  the  United  States  since  the  date  of  the  vouchers.     Whenever  it  is  known 
that  supplies  can  be  furnished  in  any  district  of  the  country  where  the  troops  are  to  operate,  the  use 
of  trains  for  carrying  subsistence  will  be  dispensed  with  as  far  as  possible. 
By  command  of  Major  General  Pope. 

GEORGE  D.  RUGGLES, 
Col.,  Asst.  Adjt.  Gen.  and  Chief  of  Staff. 
Official  : 

C.  A.  MORGAN, 

Col.  and  Aid-de-Camp. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  213 

forbidden,  and  that  the  officers  immediately  and  summarily  punish 
any  soldier  who  should  presume  to  forage  without  permission. 

The  result  was,  that,  whatever  the  men  did  sub  rosa,  our 
column  was  not  disgraced  by  such  sights  as  were  but  too  common 
along  the  line  of  march. 

Of  the  order  mentioned,  General  Pope,  in  his  official  report  of 
the  operations  of  the  Army  of  Virginia,  under  him,  says  : 

"  The  order  requiring  the  troops  to  subsist  upon  the  country  in 
which  their  operations  were  conducted,  has,  with  a  wilful  disregard 
of  its  terms,  been  construed  greatly  to  my  discredit,  as  authorizing 
indiscriminate  robbery  and  plunder ;  yet  the  terms  of  this  order  are 
so  specific,  as  to  the  manner  and  by  \vhom  all  property  or 
subsistence  needed  for  the  use  of  the  army,  should  be  seized,  and 
the  order  is  so  common  in  the  history  of  warfare,  that  I  have  been 
amazed  that  it  could  have  been  so  misinterpreted  and  misunderstood. 
It  is  therefore  submitted  here  for  the  calm  examination  of  the 
government  and  of  the  public. 

"  I  believed  then  and  believe  now,  that  the  policy  there  laid 
down  wras  wise  and  just,  and  was  well  calculated  to  secure  efficient 
and  rapid  operations  of  the  army,  and  in  case  of  reverse,  to  leave 
the  enemy  without  the  means  of  subsisting  in  the  country  over  which 
our  army  had  passed,  and  over  which  any  pursuit  must  be 
conducted.  The  long  delay  and  embarrassment  of  the  army  under 
General  Lee,  in  its  subsequent  movements  towards  Washington, 
occasioned  largely  by  the  want  of  supplies  taken  from  the  country 
under  this  order,  fully  justified  its  wisdom." 

That  the  order,  if  rightly  used,  was  just  and  wise,  cannot  be 
doubted.  It  had  become  too  apparent  that  we  were  in  an  enemy's 
country,  and  the  destructive  policy  of  protecting  and  sparing  him 
to  strike  us  from  behind,  and  saving  his  goods  for  the  use  of  an 
opposing  army,  was  abandoned  none  too  soon.  The  evils  growing 
out  of  this  were  becoming  too  great. 

We  reached  Stevensburg  shortly  after  noon,  and  here  a  halt 
was  sounded,  for  the  day  was  intensely  hot,  and  the  weary  laggards 
refused  to  be  urged.  Straggling  increased  every  moment,  and  word 
was  sent  to  the  front  that  it  was  impossible  to  keep  the  rear  closed 
up.  So  right  and  left  into  the  green  fields  the  brigades  and 
regiments  turned  from  the  road  and  stretched  themselves  upon  the 
grass  for  an  hour's  "  nooning." 

The  trains  were  not  uniformly  in  their  places  in  the  column,  the 
Quartermasters  had  not  perfected  their  arrangements  for  supplies, 


214  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

so  many  who  had  exhausted  their  haversacks  and  felt  the  cravings 
of  hunger,  scattered  in  search  of  food.  At  the  door  of  a  tumbled- 
down,  deserted  looking  farm  house,- myself  and  a  comrade  asked  for 
food,  offering  our  scanty  remnant  of  the  money  received  on  last 
pay-day  for  a  bowl  of  bread  and  milk.  The  old  lady,  who,  with  a 
grown  up  daughter,  and  two  or  three  ill-looking  men, —  who 
glowered  at  us  from  the  interior  of  the  room  —  were  the  only 
occupants,  set  before  us  a  pan  of"  clabber,"  the  Virginian  name  for 
thick  sour  milk,  saying  that  she  had  no  bread  in  the  house,  it  had 
all  been  taken  in  the  morning,  but  would  bake  some  if  we  could 
wait,  an  offer  which  we  were  obliged  to  decline.  We  finished  the 
milk  and  again  offered  our  money,  but  the  dame  refused  it,  saying 
that  she  had  two  boys  of  her  own  in  Lee's  army,  and  hoping,  with 
tears  in  her  eyes,  "  that  they  might  never  want  for  so  poor  a  meal." 
Poor  mother,  she  had  listened  for  days  to  the  booming  of  the 
cannon,  and  her  heart  ached  for  the  safety  of  those  sons. 

"  They  say  it  will  be  a  glorious  thing  for  us  to  get  our 
independence,"  said  she,  "but  they  can't  give  us  back  our  sons 
when  they  have  killed  them." 

At  about  three  o'clock  we  again  fell  in,  as  an  order  had  arrived, 
hastening  us  forward  to  the  field.  From  the  heights  of  Stevensburg 
we  could  see  the  far  away,  forest-crowned  Cedar  Mountain,  but  no 
token  of  its  dreadful  tragedy  was  revealed  by  that  serene  distance. 
The  sun  glinted  warmly  upon  its  green  dusky  sides,  and  we  only 
felt  that  its  forests  hid  dark  secrets  in  their  merciful  bosom. 

All  the  long  afternoon  we  toiled  toward  that  land-mark, 
watching  and  listening  for  the  first  gray  cloud  or  distant  rumble 
which  should  warn  of  the  coming  storm  of  death.  The  sun  waned 
and  sank,  and  still  we  toiled  on,  and  when  twilight  overtook  us  the 
dark  height  loomed  close  upon  the  left,  dim  and  silent  as  the 
thousands  of  graves  above  which  it  rose  in  cairn-like  grandeur. 

At  the  railroad  crossing,  as  we  neared  the  field,  we  met  William 
B.  Williams  and  Daniel  W.  Jenny,  both  of  "  D,"  who  had  been 
detached  as  clerks,  for  duty  at  McDowell's  headquarters,  some  time 
before,  and  they  brought  us  the  details  of  the  fight.  Many  of  the 
regiments  with  whom  we  had  held  neighborly  intercourse  in  times 
past,  and  among  which  we  numbered  hundreds  of  old  and  dear 
friends,  were  fearfully  thinned  upon  the  mountain  there,  and  nearly 
every  "  Twenty-Onester  "  had  the  same  question  to  ask  concerning 
some  one  of  these,  and  the  answer  was  too  often  the  same.  Colonel 
Donnelly,  of  the  28th,  was  mortally  wounded,  Lieutenant-Colonel 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT.  215 

Brown  had  lost  an  arm,  and  Major  Cook  was  reported  killed,  all  in 
the  same  fierce  and  deadly  charge  upon  the  wheat  field  yonder; 
Captain  William  Warren  was  shattered  by  six  balls,  and  scores  of 
the  rank  and  file  of  the  brave  little  rifle  regiment  were  sleeping  the 
last  sleep  where  they  fought  so  well. 

It  was  near  nine  o'clock  when  we  took  our  position  in  a  stubble 
field  to  the  right  of  the  road,  stacked  arms  in  column  by  division, 
and  laid  ourselves  down  to  take  a  good  night's  rest,  and  prepare 
for  the  battle  on  the  morrow.  We  had  marched  forty  miles  in 
thirty-six  hours,  enduring  terrible  heat,  short  rests,  and  thirst, —  for 
this  part  of  Virginia  is  but  poorly  supplied  with  good  water, —  and 
now  even  hunger  could  not  delay  the  needed  sleep.  All  night,  the 
ambulances,  with  their  ghastly  loads,  approached  in  long  files  from 
the  front,  and  passed  our  bivouac  toward  Culpepper.  By  mutual 
consent  the  two  armies  had  suspended  hostilities  until  the  ground 
could  be  cleared  of  its  harvest  of  suffering,  that  another  might  rise 
where  it  stood  the  day  before. 

There  was  no  noisy  reveille  next  morning,  but  silently  we  were 
aroused  and  began  our  preparations  for  the  expected  battle.  Troops 
were  moving  in  every  direction,  to  their  allotted  places,  trains  of 
wagons  that  had  accompanied  our  march  were  sent  to  the  rear, 
among  the  lines  of  stacked  arms  the  men  were  preparing  their 
breakfast,  and  squads  were  hastening,  burdened  with  canteens,  to 
and  from  the  ditches  in  our  rear,  where,  plunged  to  the  knee  in 
mud,  they  disputed  with  the  horses  of  the  cavalry  a  portion  of  the 
precious  water. 

Jackson  had  drawn  back,  on  the  morning  of  the  loth,  to  Cedar 
Mountain,  about  two  miles  in  front,  too  much  weakened  by  the 
repulse  of  the  night  before  to  risk  another  attack,  and  our  pickets 
had  moved  forward  at  daylight  and  occupied  the  field.  All  day, 
on  the  loth,  the  two  armies  had  laid  inactive,  from  fatigue  and  the 
intense  heat,  Jackson  ready  for  an  attack,  and  Pope  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  King,  from  Fredericksburg  :  and  now,  although  his  entire 
force  was  hardly  equal  to  that  of  the  enemy,  Pope  had  determined, 
after  giving  us  one  night's  rest,  "  to  fall  upon  him  at  daylight  on  the 
1 2th,  on  his  line  of  communication,  and  compel  him  to  fight  a  battle 
which  must  be  entirely  decisive,  one  way  or  the  other." 

But,  to  our  disappointment,  and  the  delight  of  those  who  felt 
the  need  of  rest  after  our  severe  exertions  of  the  three  days  past, 
news  arrived  of  the  sudden  night  retreat  of  the  enemy  across  the 
Rapidan ;  and  we  were  soon  preparing  our  bivouac  in  the  edge  of 


2l6  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

a  wood  near  where  we  had  passed  the  night.  Hardly  had  we 
interposed  the  slight  defense  afforded  by  our  worn  shelter  tents, 
when  down  came  one  of  the  most  sudden  and  severe  of  those 
thunder-driven  showers  which  rise  so  quickly  and  pass  so  soon  in 
this  hilly  country,  albeit  they  usually  manage  to  discharge  quite  as 
much  of  their  aqueous  burden  as  the  slower  showers  of  the  plains. 

Considerable  foraging  was  done  in  the  afternoon,  and  fresh 
beef,  pork  and  mutton,  were  plentiful  at  every  camp  fire.  Feasting 
on  these  and  the  green  corn  from  the  neighboring  fields,  cleaning 
arms  and  accoutrements,  and  sleeping :  so  passed  the  day.  We 
were  beginning  to  lose  much  of  our  interest  in  what  was  going  on 
beyond  the  circle  of  our  own  observation, —  to  believe  in  and 
anticipate  nothing  but  that  which  our  eyes  and  ears  made  physically 
palpable, —  to  confine  our  attention  to  the  immediate  cares  and 
events  of  the  hour  and  place.  This  is  the  inevitable  result  of  long 
months  of  alternation  between  excited  anticipation  and  discouraging 
disappointment,  the  lot  of  every  soldier,  and  which  must,  sooner  or 
later,  educate  him  into  a  stolid  indifference  to  all  but  his  own 
personal  duties  and  surroundings.  He  learns  that  he  is  but  a 
machine,  an  infinitesimal  unit  in  the  mass  of  power  that  moves  but 
to  work  out  a  problem  of  which  he  knows  not  the  key,  of  which  he 
can  but  dimly  see  the  bearings,  though  the  result  involves  his  own 
being  in  its  success  or  failure.  So  he  learns  complete  submission  to 
the  will  that  governs  him,  with  the  philosophical  determination  not 
to  trouble  himself  about  that  which  he  can  not  control  or  foresee. 

On  Wednesday,  the  i3th,  we  removed  our  camp  to  a  hill-side, 
a  mile  farther  back  toward  Culpepper.  Three  day's  marching 
rations  were  still  to  be  kept  constantly  on  hand,  and  orders  to  march 
were  hourly  expected.  Next  day  we  were  ordered  to  prepare  for  a 
review  of  the  division  by  General  Pope,  our  introduction  to  the  new 
commander  whom  we  had  not  yet  seen.  At  ten  o'clock  the  line  was 
formed,  in  a  field  near  the  centre  of  the  division,  and,  shortly, 
General  Pope,  followed  by  his  staff,  made  his  appearance.  After 
the  usual  salute  he  rode  along  the  lines,  each  regiment  presenting 
arms,  and  each  band  striking  up  a  welcome  as  he  passed.  Very 
little  enthusiasm  greeted  his  appearance,  all  seemed  to  study  intently 
the  man  who  was  henceforth  to  wield  our  destinies,  and  few  were 
inclined  to  take  him  on  trust.  One  year  before,  it  would  not  have 
been  thus,  but  we  had  learned  to  wait  for  deeds,  instead  of  relying 
upon  promises. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  21 7 

He  completed  his  round ;  for  one  instant  he  had  met,  eye  to 
eye,  the  earnest  looks  of  ten  thousand  strong  men,  to  whom, 
henceforth,  his  will  was  law,  looks  that  sought  in  him  something 
upon  which  to  place  that  fullness  of  confident  reliance  which  is  the 
commander's  strongest  hold  upon  the  power  he  directs. 

Marching  in  review,  by  battalions,  colors  dipping  and  officers 
saluting  as  we  passed  the  position  he  had  again  taken  in  front,  and 
then  back  to  our  camps,  to  compare  notes  and  define  our  first 
impressions  of  General  Pope. 

General  Reno,  with  his  division,  numbering  about  8,000  men, 
from  Burnside's  Corps,  joined  us  the  same  day,  and  rumor  heralded 
the  approach  of  still  further  reinforcements  from  the  same  source, 
some  believing  that  the  entire  corps  was  already  on  its  way.  Next 
day,  General  Banks  mustered  the  survivors  of  Saturday's  battle,  to 
be  reviewed  by  General  Pope.  Those  who  witnessed  that  review 
describe  it  as  a  saddening  sight.  Decimated  regiments,  without  a 
field  officer  left,  companies  numbering  eight  or  ten  files,  and  in 
command  of  non-commissioned  officers,  such  were  the  apparent 
results  of  that  bloody  day.  But  how  soon  were  such  sights  to 
become  so  common  to  us  as  to  pass  without  remark ! 

Orders  arrived  that  evening,  to  march  at  8:30  next  morning. 
Worn  out  clothing,  shoes,  tents  and  other  equipments  had  been 
replaced,  and  the  requisition  was  made  none  too  soon,  for  many  of 
us  were  in  rags  and  badly  shod,  if  so  lucky  as  to  be  shod  at  all. 
The  sick  had  been  sent  to  the  rear,  and  the  indications  seemed  to 
point  to  an  advance.  Report  said  that  Jackson  was  again  advancing 
from  the  Rapidan,  and  that  we  might  meet  him  near  the  ground  of 
the  previous  battle. 

At  the  appointed  hour  our  birgades  were  again  in  column  and 
headed  South.  Previous  to  starting,  however,  our  brigade  was 
formed  in  close  column,  at  half  distance,  the  ist  and  2d  battalions 
faced  by  the  rear  rank,  and  General  Patrick  read  an  order,  which 
had  just  been  received  from  General  Pope,  explaining  the  intention 
of  Order  No.  5,  and  condemnatory  of  the  abuses  which  had  resulted 
from  its  misapplication.  Our  good  General  also  gave  us  an  order 
of  his  own,  a  "clincher"  to  the  above,  and  in  which  he  took  even 
stronger  ground ;  and  the  grim  satisfaction  with  which,  in  a  few 
well-pointed  remarks,  he  did  justice  to  his  feelings  and  the  occasion, 
was  intensely  apparent.  The  very  curl  of  his  grizzled  moustache 
seemed  to  say,  "  put  that  in  your  pipe  and  smoke  it."  And  we  all 
knew  him  too  well  to  doubt  the  consequence  of  disobedience. 


21 8  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

On  this  morning  we  lost  our  band.  Just  as  we  reached  the 
Madison  Turnpike,  they  turned  back  from  their  place  at  the  head 
of  the  column,  and  passed  to  the  rear  with  a  light  step,  and 
satisfaction  in  their  faces.  An  order  had  just  arrived  for  their 
dismissal,  and,  hereafter,  but  one  band  would  be  allowed  in  each 
brigade.  The  boys  looked  with  anger  and  regret  upon  this 
deprivation  of  one  of  the  dearest  of  their  few  remaining  comforts, 
and  our  adieux  to  those  who  had  so  often  contributed  a  sweet  relief 
to  the  tedium  of  camp  life  were  more  energetic  than  courteous.  We 
did  not  blame  them  ;  the  inducements  that  prompted  their  enlistment 
with  us  no  longer  held  their  power  in  the  face  of  danger.  The 
position  of  a  non-combatant  on  the  field  is  not  an  enviable  one ;  still 
we  resented  their  eagerness  to  depart.  Not  a  single  farewell  strain 
could  the  poor  fellows  stop  to  give  us,  like  a  flint  their  faces  were 
set  northward,  and  we  saw  them  no  more. 

With  them  departed  half  the  remaining  romance  of  our  lives. 
No  more  stirring  strains  to  rouse  from  morning  slumbers,  no  more 
when  the  weary  march  was  beginning  to  tell  upon  the  strongest 
should  some  well  remembered  quickstep  carry  back  the  roused 
intelligence,  to  dwell  upon  happier  days,  and  cause  us  to  forget  our 
fatigue ;  no  more  sweet  echoes  play  among  the  hills,  as  we  watched 
the  sunset,  or  gathered  around  the  evening  camp-fires ;  no  more 
"  sounds  from  home"  launch  our  weary  spirits  into  dreamland  as 
we  drew  our  blankets  between  us  and  the  stars. 

Our  line  of  march  was  along  the  Orange  Court  House  Road, 
which  leads  to  the  right  of  Cedar  Mountain,  and  the  scene  of  the 
direst  of  that  day's  struggle.  After  crossing  Cedar  Run,  where  it 
trails  along  the  edge  of  the  forest,  and  rising  the  slope  in  front,  the 
bare  brow  of  the  mountain,  where  the  enemy  had  planted  his 
heaviest  batteries,  sweeping,  with  a  resistless  storm  of  iron,  the  plain 
below,  came  in  sight.  We  passed  the  trodden  corn  fields,  on  the 
left,  where  Geary  fought  so  bravely,  and  the  wheat  fields  on  the 
right,  with  their  scattered  and  broken  sheaves,  dark  with  the  blood 
of  the  wounded  whose  bed  they  had  been,  and  the  long  dark  lines 
of  fresh  earth  above  the  trenches,  where  slept  others  who  should 
"  never  waken  to  glory  again  "  (and  why  should  they  who  sleep  so 
gloriously  ?)  the  thousand  braves  who  fell  from  the  ranks  of 
Crawford  and  Gordon,  in  the  three  desperate  charges  against 
yonder  wooded  ridge.  The  fence  which  bounds  the  upper  edge  of 
this  field,  like  all  those  that  remain,  is  torn  and  spattered  with 
bullets.  Here  our  own  brave  28th  struggled  as  if  for  very  life, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  219 

actually  carrying  with  its  unsupported  line  the  fence,  with  its  swarm 
of  equally  brave  defenders,  driving  them  at  the  very  point  of  the 
bayonet,  back  into  the  wood,  until  the  impetuous  force  of  their 
charge  was  mastered  by  the  fearful  odds,  and,  like  a  rock-broken 
wave,  they  swept  back,  leaving  direful  wreck-tokens  upon  that 
beach  of  death.  In  the  woods,  the  countless  shallow  graves,  with 
their  occupants  sometimes  half  exposed  in  ghastly  unseemliness,  as 
though  earth  grudged  the  poor  remains  their  scant  covering, 
attested  the  handiwork  of  our  veterans,  and  the  cost  of  that  position 
to  the  enemy.  Torn  and  bloody  clothing,  blue  and  gray,  littered 
the  ground,  and  the  trees  were  scarred  and  barked  and  splintered 
by  shot  and  shell. 

Right  and  left  we  pass  silently  the  sleeping  dead.  Peace  to 
their  ashes.  Here  shall  our  children  come  in  happier  days,  and 
weep  above  them,  and  strew  with  flowers  the  consecrated  earth. 
No  need  of  granite  shaft  or  sculptured  marble  to  mark  this  spot.  A 
nation's  grateful  memory  is  their  more  enduring  monument,  and 
History,  as  she  writes  the  story  of  their  unselfish  sacrifice,  shall  blot 
the  page  with  tears.  They  died  not  in  vain.  No  !  for  the  martyr's 
crown  is  that  endurance  which  turns  not  back  from  death  though 
the  gate  be  of  fire,  and  its  brightest  jewel  is  the  sacrifice  of  self, 
for  right. 

That  day  the  army  encamped  on  both  flanks  of  the  mountain 
to  await  the  approach  of  Jackson.  Our  position  was  just  at  its  foot, 
our  corps  holding  the  centre  of  the  line ;  with  Sigel  on  our  right, 
his  right  resting  on  Robertson's  River ;  Reno  on  our  left,  his  left 
near  the  Rapidan;  and  Banks,  with  his  mutilated  divisions,  in 
reserve  at  Culpepper.  In  this  position  we  lay  until  August  igth, 
hourly  expecting  the  order  to  prepare  for  action,  and  vainly 
endeavoring  to  comprehend  the  reason  of  the  delay,  though  quite 
content  to  rest  while  we  might. 

On  the  morning  succeeding  our  advance,  our  regiment  marched 
up  the  mountain  and  occupied  the  site  I  have  mentioned  as  the 
position  of  the  rebel  batteries.  It  was  immediately  in  front  of  and 
around  the  residence  of  Philip  Slaughter,  a  Virginian  clergyman,  a 
man  of  substance  and  family,  and  who  had  here  surrounded  himself, 
in  a  spot  nature  had  made  beautiful,  with  all  that  taste  and  comfort 
could  demand,  doubtless  expecting  to  pass  quietly,  and  in  peace,  the 
evening  of  a  well-spent  life. 

Vain  hope.  His  political  position  had  been  regarded  with 
jealous  eyes  by  the  rampant  faction  with  whom  he  could  not  cast 


22O  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

his  undivided  sympathies,  the  occupation  of  a  prominent  office  in 
the  Virginia  Colonization  Society  had  drawn  upon  him  the  stigma 
of  abolitionism,  and  the  final  blow  had  culminated  during  that  phase 
of  the  struggle  between  right  and  wrong  which  had  transpired  in 
full  view  of  his  own  threshold.  We  found  the  mansion  deserted, 
except  by  marauding  squads  of  soldiers,  who  were  appropriating 
what  they  chose  from  the  general  wreck. 

These  were  dispersed,  and  our  Colonel  immediately  established 
it  as  his  headquarters.  The  house  had  been  gutted  from  roof  to 
cellar,  and  an  attempt  made  to  fire  it,  which  failed  in  the  haste  of 
the  retreat.  Fragments  of  a  splendid  library  littered  the  grounds 
around,  with  the  remains  of  a  thousand  household  treasures.  The 
collection  must  have  been  the  work  of  more  than  one  life  time, 
judging  from  the  stray  leaves  of  rare  and  almost  priceless  works 
that  made  the  ground  white  for  rods  around.  In  one  corner  of  the 
yard  the  cavalry  had  apparently  bedded  their  horses  with  these 
remains.  Among  them  I  found  a  number  of  engravings  from  a  large 
folio  in  the  Italian;  a  history  and  minute  description  of  the  Vatican, 
copies  from  the  undying  works  of  Angelo,  Rafaelle  and  the  many 
immortals  to  whom  that  structure  owes  its  brightest  treasures, 
defaced,  torn,  but  still  with  enough  of  their  original  beauty  to  make 
them  treasures  to  me.  They  went,  with  many  another  valued  relic, 
and  my  hoard  of  sketches,  when  we  were  ordered  to  throw  off  our 
knapsacks  on  that  disastrous  retreat  of  the  following  days. 

The  ground  around  was  ploughed  deeply  in  many  places  by 
the  answering  fire  directed  against  this  spot.  I  was  surprised  at  the 
quantity  of  unexploded  shell  lying  in  every  direction,  and  which 
had  evidently  been  fired  from  our  guns.  Most  of  them  were  the 
improved  "  percussion "  shell,  and  had  not  struck  in  a  proper 
manner  to  explode. 

To  gather  them  up  and  put  them  out  of  the  way  of  accident, 
was  one  of  our  first  cares.  A  needless  precaution  it  came  near 
being,  in  one  case.  A  couple  of  the  irrepressible  sons  of  Ham  had 
converted  a  small  pile  of  them  into  an  impromptu  fire-place,  and 
were  preparing  to  make  their  coffee.  A  few  minutes  more,  and  the 
"bone  of  contention "  would  have  been  less  by  a  trifle,  when  a 
soldier  happened  on  the  scene  of  action,  and  took  in  "  the  situation  " 
at  a  glance. 

"  What  are  you  doing  with  those  shell?  " 

"  Dem  shells,  sah  ?  Gwine  to  make  a  fiah,  sah  !  Dem  shell 
done  used  up,  I  reckon." 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  221 

When  informed,  in  terms  more  forcible  than  choice,  that  a 
single  spark  applied  to  one  of  those  exposed  fuses,  would 
considerably  hasten  their  anticipated  expedition  to  "  Canaan,"  "  or 
words  to  that  effect,"  they  turned  pale,  almost,  and  abandoned  that 
base  of  operations  with  commendable  haste,  thus  declaring  their 
preference  of  the  "overland  route"  to  a  short  cut  in  the  direction 
referred  to. 

We  pitched  our  tents  upon  a  kind  of  natural  terrace  in  front  of 
the  mansion,  the  finest  camping  ground  it  had  yet  been  our  lot  to 
occupy.  Below  us  spread  like  a  map  the  scene  of  the  late  battle, 
to  the  far  East  the  eye  swept  a  boundless  expanse  of  undulating, 
forest  tufted  country,  while  Northward,  and  to  the  West,  the  dim, 
cloudlike  ranges  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  Bull  Run  Mountains,  with 
here  and  there  a  sharply  defined  peak  standing  out  boldly  by  itself, 
bounded  the  vision.  The  landscape  was  heavenly  in  its  beauty, 
most  so  at  sunset,  when  the  Western  sky,  blazoned  with  glory,  tinted 
the  woods  and  hills,  and  masses  of  brown  and  gray  shadow  relieved 
the  outline  of  rocky  piles  with  their  matchless  broidery  of  foliage, 
and  nestled  softly  in  the  valleys,  while  but  for  the  lines  of  blue,  and 
glittering  steel,  visible  here  and  there  upon  the  plain,  and  the  tap 
of  drum  and  scream  of  fife  at  "  retreat,"  nothing  told  of  war  and 
carnage,  and  all  was  serenely  and  gloriously  beautiful. 

There  we  passed  a  few  pleasant  days,  enjoying  the  deceitful 
calm,  regardless  of  what  it  presaged.  This  was  one  of  the  green 
spots  in  our  desert,  one  of  those  pages  in  the  record  of  every 
soldier,  where  memory  turns  down  the  leaf,  and  to  which  in 
retrospective  moments  we  all  love  to  turn  back.  For  this  was  one 
of  the  last  of  our  camping  places  before  death  moved  many  a  good 
comrade  to  his  last  bivouac. 

By  the  morning  of  the  i8th  of  August,  General  Pope  became 
satisfied  that  nearly  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  from  Richmond 
was  assembled  in  his  front,  along  the  South  side  of  the  Rapidan, 
and  extending  from  Raccoon  Ford  to  Liberty  Mills.  Our  cavalry 
had  captured,  on  the  i6th,  near  Louisa  Court  House,  the  Adjutant 
General  of  the  rebel  Stuart,  who  himself  narrowly  escaped.  Among 
the  papers  taken  was  an  autograph  letter  of  General  Robert  Lee,  to 
General  Stuart,  dated  Gordonsville,  August  I5th,  which  manifested 
the  position  and  force  of  the  enemy,  and  their  determination  to  fall 
upon  and  overwhelm  us  before  any  portion  of  McClellan's  peninsular 
army  could  reinforce  us. 


222  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

On  the  i8th,  it  became  apparent  to  General  Pope,  that  this 
advanced  position  with  the  small  force  under  his  command,  was  no 
longer  tenable,  in  the  face  of  the  overwhelming-  forces  of  the  enemy, 
and  he  determined,  accordingly,  to  withdraw  behind  the 
Rappahannock  with  all  speed,  and,  as  he  had  been  instructed,  to 
defend  as  far  as  practicable  the  line  of  that  river. 

Clouds  of  dust,  rising  above  the  forests  on  our  left,  had  told  us 
on  that  morning  of  a  movement  among  Reno's  forces  ;  but  we  little 
thought  that  the  retreat  from  this  blood  bought  position  had  already 
begun.  At  that  moment  his  trains  were  already  on  their  way  to 
the  Rappahannock,  while  his  whole  corps,  with  the  exception  of  the 
cavalry  left  at  Raccoon  Ford  to  cover  the  movement,  would  soon 
follow.  During  the  day,  rumors  of  the  intended  retreat,  rumors 
which  had  been  idly  circulating  for  days  past,  but  which  no  one 
cared  to  believe,  gained  credit ;  and  finally,  when  we  learned  that 
General  Banks  had  already  dispatched  his  trains  (by  way  of 
Brandy  Station),  and  that  ours  of  the  third  division  were  preparing 
to  follow  them,  all  doubt  was  at  an  end.  Then  we  were  ordered  to 
prepare  for  a  forced  march,  knapsacks  were  packed,  everything 
superfluous  rejected,  rations  of  hard  bread  and  coffee  stowed  away 
in  our  haversacks,  with  a  trifling  quantity  of  bacon,  and  it  only 
remained  to  strike  and  pack  the  tents.  In  the  warmth  of  the 
summer  afternoon  the  men  stood  in  little  groups  discussing  the  news 
of  the  hour,  or  wandered  aimlessly  around  the  spot  soon  to  be 
relinquished  to  the  foe,  or  hurried  to  the  spring  for  a  last  supply  of 
fresh  water.  At  last  came  the  tap  of  the  drum  and  the  bugle  call 
for  parade,  and,  while  the  lines  was  being  formed,  came  the  order 
to  "strike  tents;"  already  the  troops  were  gathering  in  masses  at 
the  foot  and  rear  of  the  mountain,  awaiting  the  hour  when  the  trains 
should  be  safely  in  the  distance,  to  take  the  same  route. 

Slowly  down  the  mountain  side,  in  the  full  blaze  of  the  setting 
sun  our  column  took  its  way,  then  halted,  closed  up  in  column  by 
division,  stacked  arms,  and  settled  down  upon  the  plain  to  wait  for  the 
darkness.  The  sun  went  down  in  what  seemed  a  broken  mountain 
of  fire,  with  a  sea  of  blood  at  its  foot,  and  then  darkness  hid  the 
horizon,  and  the  hills,  and  the  woods ;  and  we  could  only  hear  the 
hum  of  the  thousands  overlying  the  plain. 

Soon  a  camp  fire  twinkles  in  the  distance,  then  another,  and 
another,  and  now  they  multiply  as  though  a  detachment  of  vagrant 
stars,  wandering  inland  from  the  horizon,  were  making  their  bivouac 
with  us.  And  now  they  cover  the  plain  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  223 

the  more  distant  glimmering  dimly  through  the  smoke,  which  lifts 
lazily  in  the  damp  night  air  ;  men  magnified  into  shadowy  giants 
pass  and  repass  before  them,  and  phantom  horsemen  seem  to  stalk 
between. 

Near  us,  in  an  orchard,  barrels  of  salt  beef  stands  where  they 
were  unloaded,  the  wagons  have  gone,  and  we  help  ourselves,  for 
what  we  leave  will  fall  into  the  hands  of  those  whom  we  do  not  care 
to  feed.  Over  some  of  the  fires  are  huge  kettles,  brought  from  the 
neighboring  farm  houses,  and  around  others  are  groups  of  men, 
watching  their  tin  cups,  in  which  a  savory  morsel  is  boiling  and 
steaming,  and  slowly  attaining  a  condition  of  gastronomic 
practicability.  Others  are  making  coffee,  and  along  the  line  of 
stacked  muskets,  with  knapsacks  for  pillows,  and  swathed  in  blankets 
begemmed  with  fallen  dew,  lie  rows  of  sleepers,  dreamless  as  those 
whose  covering  is  the  emerald  sod.  But  many  are  sleepless,  for 
the  hour  seems  made  for  thought,  and  coming  events  perhaps  cloud 
not  a  few  of  the  dark  faces  around  these  fires ;  others  beguile  the 
hour  with  song  and  jest,  but  chiefly  song;  and  what  so  likely  as 
that  the  singers  should  choose  old  themes,  fragments  from  many 
past  happy  hours,  and  that  many  a  soldier  listener  should  silently 
turn  his  face  from  the  light,  with  something  upon  his  cheek  heavier 
than  the  night  dew.  How  many  of  us  will  look  back  to  this,  as  the 
last  social  hour  passed  with  some  one  who  watches  by  no  more 
earthly  camp  fires  ! 

At  twelve,  a  scarcely  apparent  stir  passed  like  a  wave  across 
the  fields ;  there  is  a  subdued  bustle  as  of  preparation,  and  the 
lowering  fires  flare  up  brightly.  The  retreat  has  begun.  The  fires 
are  replenished  and  multiplied  to  deceive  the  wary  watchers  who 
may  chance  to  be  in  our  front,  *  and  silently  as  possible,  "  left  in 
front,"  the  column  begins  to  form  and  move  away  into  the  darkness. 
The  sleepers  are  roused  from  under  the  stacks  with  a  few  judicious 
kicks  and  shakes,  and  rise  to  their  places  without  a  question.  But 
our  time  is  not  yet  come,  so  again  we  stack  arms,  and  lie  down.  All 
night  men  are  rising  by  regiments,  and  moving  silently  and  swiftly 
to  their  place  in  the  line  and  passing  to  the  rear,  and  when  the 
morning  dawns  they  are  not  yet  all  gone.  So  we  cook  our 
breakfast,  and  eat  it,  and  smoke,  and  lie  around,  and  make  ourselves 


*  We  afterwards  learned  that  the  advance  guard  of  the  enemy,  took  our  brightening  fires  and 
other  demonstrations,  for  the  signs  of  an  intended  advance  against  them,  and  immediately  fell  back 
five  miles  to  a  stronger  position.  To  this  fact  we  owe  the  accomplishment  of  the  unmolested  retreat 
of  the  main  force  to  our  new  line. 


224 


CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


as  comfortable  as  though  we  were  not  a  rear  guard,  waiting  for  the 
line  to  get  out  of  our  way,  and  a  hot-footed  enemy  coming 
somewhere  between  us  and  the  sun. 

At  about  nine  o'clock,  we  again  fall  in,  sling  knapsacks,  "  take  >r 
arms,  and  bid  good-bye  to  Cedar  Mountain. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  225 


CHAPTER  XII 


A  weary  march. —  Night,  and  a  halt. —  No  postponement  on  account  of  the  weather. —  Behind  the 
Rappahannock. —  The  Buffalo  at  bay. —  Battle  of  the  2ist  of  August. —  (Guarding  fords  by 
night. —  A  demoralized  contraband. —  March  to  Warrenton. 


THIS  was  Tuesday,  and  the  igth  day  of  August,  on  which  we 
took  our  place  in  the  rear  of  our  division,  and  followed  on 
toward  the  Rappahannock.  Weariness,  trial  and  suffering  were 
before  us  ;  all  knew  it  and  husbanded  their  resources.  And  behind, 
grim  and  relentless  as  fate,  we  knew  the  rebel  hordes  were  already 
on  our  trail,  and  eager  for  our  destruction. 

A  short  rest,  just  before  we  reached  Culpepper,  the  canteens 
were  filled,  and  then  we  waited  while  Sigel's  corps,  which  had 
followed  in  our  rear  thus  far,  passed  on,  to  take  a  different  route,  as 
we  soon  discovered,  thus  leaving  us  the  extreme  rear  guard 
of  our  own.  * 

Again  the  knapsacks  were  resumed,  and  for  the  remainder  ol 
the  day,  and  most  of  the  succeeding  night,  we  did  not  again  lay 
them  down.  No  halts  were  allowed,  except  when  some  obstruction 
checked  the  speed  of  the  line,  far  in  our  front,  and  caused  a  few 
minutes  delay,  during  which  we  sometimes  got  a  breathing  spell ; 
but  these  were  rather  spoiled  by  the  necessity  which  immediately 
followed,  of  increasing  our  speed  for  some  distance,  until  the  column 
was  again  closed  up.  Evening  approached,  but  no  halt.  Still  we 
plodded  wearily  along,  our  knapsacks  growing  heavier  with  each 
step,  until  it  seemed  as  though  the  tired  feet  could  no  longer  bear 
their  weight,  and  hunger  began  to  gnaw  at  our  strength  ;  but  still 
no  halt.  Again  the  stars  came  out  and  looked  down  through  the 


*  Reno  had  taken  the  Stevensburg  road,  by  which  he  came,  and  which  led  him  back  to  Kelly's 
Ford,  some  six  miles  below  the  railroad  crossing.  Sigel,  after  following  us  to  Culpepper,  took  the 
Warrentown  Road  to  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  crossing,  six  miles  above  the  railroad.  Banks'  corps 
had  preceded  ours  by  way  of  Brandy  Station,  and  thus  it  was  that  ours  became  the  rear  guard  of  the 
line.  Bayard's  Cavalry  alone  remained  to  cover  the  rear  guard,  but  this  we  did  not  discover  until 
next  day. 


226  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

trees,  as  we  threaded  the  forest  of  pines,  and  the  cool  air  of  night 
helped  to  eke  out  the  last  remnant  of  our  energies,  as  we  still  moved 
on,  some  staggering  like  drunken  men,  and  all  nearly  at  the  point 
where  duty  and  habit  alike  succumb  to  physical  necessity. 

Finally,  near  midnight,  after  a  succession  of  abrupt  halts  and 
ineffectual  efforts  to  keep  the  line  closed  up,  we  filed  off  by 
companies  upon  the  grass  by  the  roadside,  and  were  told  that  we 
would  be  allowed  a  short  time  for  rest,  while  the  right  of  the  line 
should  cross  the  river. 

I  have  a  faint  recollection  of  an  order  to  stack  arms,  but  no  one 
could  obey.  For  myself  I  can  only  say  that  I  shall  never  forget  the 
intense  effort  that  accomplished  those  last  few  steps  out  of  the  road, 
or  the  blissful  relief  in  allowing,  all  at  once,  every  muscle  to  relax 
to  its  utmost,  as  I  sank  upon  my  musket, —  my  loosened  knapsack 
falling  by  chance  just  beneath  my  head, —  and  resigned  myself  to 
oblivion.  Had  my  grave  yawned  there  I  must  have  fallen  just  so, 
and  my  sleep  could  not  have  been  deeper. 

We  might  have  lain  thus  for  an  hour, —  it  could  not  have  been 
much  longer, —  when  the  bugle, sounded  the  "  fall  in,"  but  it  might 
as  well  have  been  blown  in  a  grave-yard.  Here  and  there,  indeed, 
an  officer  whose  ruling  passion,  .duty,  proved  strong  even  in  sleep, 
arose  dreamily,  distributed  a  few  inconsequent  kicks  and  incoherent 
curses,  which  might  as  well  have  been  expended  upon  so  many 
logs,  and  then,  like  a  sensible  man,  settled  himself  with  a  grunt  for 
another  nap.  It  was  of  no  use.  A  pursuing  army  might  have 
broken  their  shins  over  our  prostrate  bodies,  and  we  should  have 
been  none  the  wiser.  So  the  bugler  went  to  sleep  again,  and  it  was 
not  until  the  gray  of  the  dawn  that  we  at  last  arose,  satisfied  and 
refreshed,  and  drenched  with  the  chilly  officiousness  of  the 
night  clew. 

We  fell  in,  without  waiting  to  breakfast;  for  no  supplies  could 
be  got  this  side  the  river,  and,  except  a  ration  of  coffee,  and  perhaps 
a  few  hard-tack,  our  haversacks  were  empty.  It  was  not  far,  and 
by  sunrise  we  had  reached  our  position  behind  the  bluff  at 
Rappahannock  Station,  the  rations  were  drawn  and  distributed,  and 
we  broke  our  long  fast. 

There,  within  a  mile  around  us,  lay  the  different  divisions, 
crowded  together  in  what  seemed  inextricable  confusion ;  for,  in  the 
hurry  of  the  arrival,  and  with  the  necessity  of  interposing  the  river 
between  us  and  our  officious  friend  General  Lee,  little  attention  had 
been  paid  to  proper  grouping.  And  we  were  none  too  soon. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  227 

The  last  of  our  brigades  has  just  crossed,  and  the  cavalry, 
Bayard's  detachment  from  one  of  the  Ira  Harris  regiments,  make 
their  appearance,  emerging  from  a  belt  of  wood  not  more  than  a 
mile  away.  A  few  scattering  shots  are  heard.  Suddenly  they 
wheel,  and  their  sabres  flash  in  the  sun  as  with  a  wild  yell  they  go 
charging  back.  A  rattling  discharging  of  carbines,  and  then 
another  line  appears  in  the  smoky  front  of  the  wood,  and  rapidly 
bears  down  to  meet  them. 

By  this  time  the  high  bluffs  which  shelter  our  position,  are 
quite  crowded  with  eager  lookers  on.  It  is  a  glorious  sight.  We 
have  hardly  time  to  realize  that  those  are  really  our  long  expected 
foes,  that  it  is  all  in  earnest,  and  not  one  of  those  sham  charges  with 
which  our  division  drills  at  Bailey's  last  year  made  us  familiar,  and 
which  it  so  much  resembles,  when,  with  a  shock  and  a  clash  they 
meet.  We  can  not  see  much  of  what  follows  for  the  confusion  is 
dire;  but  sabres  flash  in  the  smoke,  and,  here  and  there,  a  riderless 
horse  gallops  away  ;  and  one  line  has  turned  back:  —  it  is  not  ours, 
—  and  the  trees  hide  the  rest,  except  a  few  dismounted  men  limping 
away  or  being  helped  upon  a  comrade's  saddle. 

They  returned,  not  long  after,  covered  with  dust,  and  their  tired 
horses  showing  unmistakable  marks  of  the  severe  service  they  had 
done  during  the  last  forty-eight  hours.  It  had  been  necessary  to 
repeat  this  manouvre  of  charging  and  falling  back,  many  times,  to 
check  the  enemy's  advance,  and  give  our  tired  footmen  time  to 
reach  this  shelter.  And  now  our  pickets  were  drawn  in,  the  cavalry 
crossed  the  bridge,  and,  at  last,  the  entire  army  had,  without  severe 
loss,  reached  its  new  line  of  defense.* 

That  day,  August  2oth,  was  passed  in  disposing  the  troops 
regularly  and  to  the  best  advantage.  It  was  desirable  that  the 
Rappahannock  should  be  held  as  long  as  possible,  to  gain  time  for 
the  troops  coming  up  the  Potomac  to  join  us,  and  particularly  those 
coming  by  way  of  Aquia  Creek  and  Fredericksburg,  who  would  be 
liable  to  be  cut  off,  should  we  give  up  the  river  before  their  arrival. 

The  Rappahannock,  says  Pope's  report,  above  the  mouth  of 
the  Rapidan,  is  an  inconsiderable  stream,  and  fordable  at  most 
seasons,  every  few  miles.  The  third  corps  vours;  was  posted  at  and 
above  the  railroad  bridge,  which  had  been  so  arranged  as  to  serve 
for  artillery  and  cavalry. 


*  Our  regiment  lost  one  man,  Joseph  Alexander,  of  Company  "  K,"  killed  on  the.igth,  by  the 
upsetting  of  one  of  the  wagons.     He  was  burieci  on  the  spot. 


228  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Sigel's  corps  was  on  our  right,  and  Banks  and  Reno  occupied 
the  left,  the  extent  of  the  whole  line,  at  the  time,  being  about  six  miles. 
All  the  strong  positions  were  held  by  our  batteries,  with  heavy 
supports  of  infantry,  and,  along  the  river,  the  pickets  of  the  two 
armies  grimly  regarded  each  other  across  the  narrow  stream.  By 
night-fall,  it  became  apparent  that  the  whole  rebel  army  was 
swarming  in  the  woods  beyond,  and  preparing,  like  ourselves,  for  a 
day  of  severe  trial. 

Just  at  sunset  we  were  ordered  to  fall  in,  and  marched  about  a 
mile  north  of  the  station,  to  our  place  in  line.  It  was  about  half  a 
mile  from  the  river,  and  a  few  belts  of  wood  and  low  hills  were 
between,  where  lay  some  of  our  batteries,  in  sheltered  positions, 
ready  to  wheel  into  their  places  and  belch  destruction  upon  any 
hostile  approach,  at  a  moment's  notice. 

Next  morning,  August  2ist,  we  were  ready  by  sunrise,  with  a 
good  breakfast  of  bacon,  hard-tack  and  coffee,  stowed  away  under 
our  belts,  and  a  hundred  rounds  of  cartridges  to  each  man. 

Just  in  our  front  was  a  ford,  called,  I  think,  "  Newman's,"  and 
the  first  above  the  railroad  crossing.  A  battery  and  a  regiment  of 
infantry  from  Banks'  corps  had  been  sent  to  guard  this  on  the 
evening  before.  There,  about  day-break,  the  enemy  made  his  first 
attack.  The  battery  was  disabled,  and,  with  its  supporting  force, 
driven  back  by  the  fury  of  the  onset,  the  enemy  gaining  the  woods 
and  a  corn  field  in  our  immediate  front.  At  this  moment  we  were 
ordered  forward.  We  had  heard  the  firing,  but  were  totally 
ignorant  of  the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  river,  until, 
emerging  from  a  wood  which  had  masked  our  advance,  a  troop  of 
cavalry,  and  a  battery,  showed  themselves  momentarily,  hurrying 
across  an  opening  in  our  front,  the  cavalry  to  cover,  and  the  guns 
destined  to  take  position  in  the  corn  field  I  have  mentioned.  Our 
regiment  had  advanced  unsupported  thus  far,  and  now  formed  in 
line  of  battle,  fronting  the  apparent  position  of  the  enemy.  Hardly 
was  this  accomplished  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  wood  on 
our  right  was  also  full  of  dismounted  cavalry,  threatening  an  attack 
on  our  flank. 

Back,  through  the  woods  again,  and,  while  forming  line  for  the 
second  time  Colonel  Rogers  received  orders  to  support  a  battery 
which  had  taken  position  upon  our  left.  *  It  was  necessary  to  cross 
a  meadow  to  reach  the  position,  and  while  doing  this  the  enemy 


*  Reynolds'. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  22Q 

opened  upon  us  with  musketry  from  the  wood  where  the  right  of 
our  first  line  had  rested,  but  at  too  long-  range  to  do  much 
execution ;  although  the  first  ball  narrowly  missed  our  Colonel,  who 
had  not  dismounted^  and  then  passed  through  the  colors.  Hardly 
had  we  reached  our  place  in  rear  of  the  guns  when  the  cannonade 
became  furious.  The  shell  screamed  through  the  air  over  our 
heads,  striking  almost  invariably  just  in  rear  of  the  slope  upon  which 
we  lay,  or  tore  long  furrows  between  our  lines,  throwing  up  the 
earth  and  sending  their  fragments  whistling  above  us  in  a  most 
uncomfortable  manner.  One  struck  among  a  group  of  stretcher 
bearers  who  were  hurrying  after  the  ambulances,  as  they  sought  a 
sheltered  .position,  and  the  ground  and  lofty  tumbling  that 
immediately  followed  was  intensely  amusing,  especially  as  no  one 
was  injured. 

I  know  of  no  more  severe  introduction  to  field  service  than  that 
we  were  just  then  experiencing.  Jn  the  rush  and  whirl  of  the 
charge,  or  the  more  slow7  and  steady  advance  of  the  skirmish  line, 
or  even  in  standing  where  the  fast  thinning  ranks  hold  their  place  in 
the  face  of  the  rattling  musketry,  and  the  bullets  sing  around  the 
ears,  suggesting  swarms  of  angry  bees  blindly  seeking  a  victim, 
there  is  infinitely  more  of  danger;  but  the  excitement  of  active 
participation  hides  it  from  the  soldier.  Not  so  when  he  lies, 
exposed,  and  with  nothing  to  do  but  to  listen  to  the  horrid  rush  of 
shot  and  shell,  waiting  with  the  expectation  that  the  next  one  will 
want  to  make  a  path  just  where  he  lies. 

But  soon  there  is  relief  for  a  few  of  us.  The  enemy's 
sharp-shooters  in  the  cover  of  the  woods  have  got  near  enough  to 
begin  picking  off  our  gunners.  One  ball  narrowly  misses  a  little 
group  among  the  guns,  our  good  old  General,  Colonel  Rogers,  and 
Colonel  Lord  of  the  35th,  striking,  and  instantly  killing  the  horse 
of  the  latter  officer.  General  Patrick  cooly  turns  and  calls  for 
"some  of  the  boys  who  are  good  marksmen  "  to  come  up  to  the 
fence  in  front  and  try  to  pick  off"  some  of  those  fellows."  Half  the 
regiment  are  instantly  on  their  feet,  but  only  a  few  can  be  sent  from 
each  company.  At  the  same  moment  Captain  Lay  ton  is  ordered 
out  with  his  own  company,  "  K,"  and  "  H  ; "  the  latter  under 
Lieutenant  Minnery,  Captain  Hayward  having  been  sent  to  hospital, 
from  Fredericksburg.  These  two  companies  deploy  immediately 
by  the  right  flank,  and  the  long  snaky  looking  line  disappears  in 
the  woods. 


230  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

The  scene  grows  more  and  more  exciting  as  the  hour  wears  on, 
and  we  get  accustomed  to  the  situation.  The  fence  is  lined  with 
those  of  the  boys  who  liked  the  fun  of  practicing  at  animated  targets, 
even  with  the  slight  drawback  occasioned  by  the  necessity  of 
caution  in  its  indulgence.  Some  are  interestedly  watching  the  effect 
of  the  shot  fired  from  that  section  of  the  battery  in  our  immediate 
front,  and  others  run  with  cartridges  from  the  caissons. 

About  noon  the  rebels,  beginning  to  find  their  quarters  too  hot, 
suddenly  limber  up  and  make  for  the  river,  leaving  two  pieces,  or 
rather  their  fragments,  as  evidences  of  the  accuracy  of  our  practice. 
Our  line  is  shifted  to  the  woods  on  our  right  again,  and  the  cooks 
who  have  been  waiting  for  a  lull  in  the  melee,  bring  up  kettles  of 
boiled  beef,  upon  which  we  make  a  hearty  dinner,  with  a  dessert 
from  the  huckleberry  bushes  among  which  we  are  lying.  All  the 
while  the  batteries  across  the  river  are  sending  random  shots 
whistling  and  crackling  among  the  trees,  but  none  of  them  fall 
near  us. 

At  about  two  P.  M.  we  are  ordered  down  to  the  river  again,  to 
oppose  an  expected  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  cross  a  second  time. 
Layton  and  Minnery,  with  their  little  line  of  skirmishers  have  been 
doing  nobly,  as  we  shall  shortly  see,  and  now  we  hasten  to  join 
them,  where,  ranged  along  the  fence  of  the  corn  field  skirting  the 
river,  they  hotly  contest  the  possession  of  the  ford. 

The  Twenty-Third  and  ours  occupy  each  a  side  of  ravine,  the 
foot  of  which  is  the  threatened  point,  and  protected  by  what  I  may 
call  the  shoulders  of  the  ridge,  on  either  side,  from  the  enemy's 
sharp-shooters.  Our  own  are  still  exchanging  the  courtesies  ot 
warfare  \vith  these  all  along  our  right,  and,  occasionally,  some 
grayback  who  has  a  secure  berth  in  a  commanding  tree  top,  sends 
a  reminder  of  his  good  will  whistling  among  our  heads,  upon  which 
we  all  bow,  very  politely,  if  not  with  dignity,  the  latter  being 
entirely  unnecessary  on  these  occasions,  though  some  fellows  will 
persist  in  the  most  ludicrous  efforts  to  maintain  it. 

Our  position  here  soon  became  anything  but  comfortable. 
Several  batteries  were  brought  to  bear,  and,  in  trying  to  get  our 
range,  swept  the  ravine  with  a  perfect  shower  of  projectiles. 
Several  attempts  were  made  to  carry  the  ford  under  cover  of  them, 
but  each  succeeded  only  in  clogging  the  shallow  stream  with  the 
victims  of  our  sharp-shooters,  who  were  jealously  watching  it. 

About  dusk  General  Patrick  discovered  that  the  enemy  were 
planting  a  battery  in  a  position  to  rake  us  with  murderous  effect, 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  23! 

and  immediately  gave  the  order  to  fall  back  to  the  position  we 
occupied  in  the  morning.  As  we  rose  to  obey,  the  battery  opened 
fire,  with  such  precision  as  to  plant  two  or  three  shell  apparently  in 
the  very  midst  of  the  Twenty-Third,  who  were  moving  in  double 
column  to  the  rear  up  a  slope  of  about  thirty  rods,  cutting  one  man 
in  two  and  wounding  many.  We  were  more  fortunate.  With  that 
calm  readiness  of  conception  which  accompanied  his  perfect 
comprehension  of  the  bearings  of  any  emergency,  however  sudden, 
a  quality  which  can  not  be  too  much  admired,  and  which  won  the 
entire  confidence  of  his  men,  Colonel  Rogers  determined,  instead  of 
moving  directly  to  the  rear,  to  make  a  flank  movement  so  as  to 
retain  the  shelter  of  the  ridge  until  we  could  reach  that  of  the 
woods  on  our  right,  which  ran  across  the  rear  of  the  ravine.  We  were 
in  double  column  at  half  distance,  the  center  division  being  in  front, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  deploy  so  as  to  expose  but  its  width  of  four 
files,  while  we  marched  by  the  right  of  the  column.  But  to  deploy, 
the  first  regular  movement  of  the  manouvre,  would  have  been  to 
expose  the  whole  left  wing  to  the  enemy's  fire.  All  this  passed 
through  every  mind  in  a  second  of  time.  But  we  were  in  the  hands 
of  a  man  equal  to  the  occasion. 

Battalion,  right  face,  forward  march  ! —  The  regiment  moved 
in  this  order  perhaps  fifty  paces,  when  the  Colonel  gave  the 
command  :  —  Right  companies,  by  file  right,  left  companies  follow  in 
their  order  —  and,  marching  by  the  flank,  in  five  minutes  more  we 
were  in  the  friendly  shelter  of  the  woods,  not  a  man  scratched. 

It  was  one  of  those  inspirations  which  come  only  with  the 
pressure  of  dire  necessity,  when  the  brain  is  strong  enough  to 
sustain  its  poise  and  look  the  dilemma  calmly  in  the  face.  It  is  laid 
down  in  no  military  work,  and  might  never  be  appropriate  again  : 
it  belonged  to  the  time,  the  place  and  the  man.  Even  General 
McDowell,  who  saw  it  from  the  distance,  clapped  his  hands  and 
exclaimed  "well  done,"*  a  great  deal  for  him  to  say  in  the  way  of 
commendation,  as  those  who  know  him  well  will  testify 

Thus  ended  the  first  engagement  in  which  we  had  participated, 
as  a  regiment,  and  not  perhaps  without  some  credit  to  the 
Twenty- First,  though  it  was  but  a  farce  to  what  we  were  destined 
to  see.  Owing  in  part  to  good  fortune  and  partly,  perhaps 
principally,  to  skillful  handling,  we  had  come  off  without  the  loss  of 


So  says  Captain  C.'rai,^  Wadsworth,  then  on  McDowell's  staff. 


232  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

a  man ;  though  other  regiments,  no  more  exposed  than  we,  suffered 
severely. 

That  night  we  lay  upon  our  arms  in  supporting  distance  of  the 
picket  at  the  ford,  which  might  be  again  threatened  under  cover  of 
the  darkness.  Without  blankets,  in  the  mud  to  our  ankles,  and  in  a 
cold  misty  rain,  we  passed  a  most  uncomfortable  night,  although  so 
fatigued,  with  the  exertions  of  the  day,  as  to  find  rest  and  even 
sound  sleep,  exposed  thus  to  the  pouring  rain  and  with  but  a  few 
rails  from  the  fence  to  keep  us  from  smothering  in  the  mud. 

About  nine,  companies  "  H  "  and  "  K  "  came  in  and  joined  us, 
and  we  learned  the  details  of  their  work.  After  deploying,  they 
had  moved  to  the  right  for  about  a  mile,  and  then,  facing  to  the 
front,  and  wheeling  somewhat  to  the  left,  the  line  moved  down  upon 
the  wood  before  mentioned  as  the  cover  of  the  cavalry,  who  had 
dismounted  and  were  acting  as  sharp-shooters.  A  quick  and 
determined  advance  soon  cleared  the  wood,  the  butternuts  mounting 
their  horses  and  retreating  across  the  meadows  toward  their  battery. 
"Jabe"  Valentine  of  "  K,"  took  one  prisoner.  He  had  got  in 
advance  of  the  line  in  his  hurry,  and  "winged"  the  fellow  by 
bringing  down  his  horse;  collared  him,  and  led  him  to  the  rear. 
Pushing  forward  to  the  meadow,  a  few  volleys  were  exchanged,  and 
then  our  boys  charged  again,  as  the  cavalry  made  for  the  ford,  and 
reached  the  edge  of  the  corn  field  just  in  time  to  see  the  battery 
leaving  the  other  side.  Along  this  corn  field,  on  the  edge  of  the 
river,  they  had  been  skirmishing  all  the  rest  of  the  day,  with 
immense  advantage  in  position  and  severely  punishing  every  effort 
of  the  enemy  against  this  point. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  cross,  that  night,  for  which  we  have 
probably  to  thank  the  weather.  Stretching  our  stiffened  limbs  at 
daybreak,  we  prepared  our  coffee,  and  had  barely  swallowed  it 
when  we  were  again  hurried  away,  to  support  some  batteries  planted 
upon  what  seemed  hastily  constructed  earthworks,  farther  to  the 
right  and  front  of  our  ground  of  the  preceding  day.  The  ball  had 
opened  again  with  renewed  and  increased  fury,  the  gunners  of  both 
armies  seeming  determined  to  revenge  the  discomforts  of  the  night 
upon  each  other.  The  shell  were  already  flying  hotly  around  us, 
when  we  were  met  with  orders  to  return  to  our  tents,  as  fresh  troops 
had  been  sent  to  relieve  us.  Still  we  retired  slowly,  and  I  observed 
that  the  wary  watching  and  dodging  of  the  day  before  was  nearly 
forgotten  ;  the  men  looking  almost  with  indifference  upon  the  solid 
shot  and  shell  that  came  ricocheting  along  the  ground.  Their 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  233 

experience  of  the  day  before,  had  convinced  them  of  the  uncertainty 
of  artillery  firing-  at  long-  range,  and  they  had  gained  proportionately 
in  confidence,  the  chance  of  being  hit  seeming  about  one  in  a 
hundred,  or  even  less ;  a  fact  which  soon  reassures  even  novices. 

We  were  very  glad  to  reach  our  shelter  tents  again,  and 
resigned  ourselves  to  the  enjoyment  of  plentiful  coffee,  pork  and 
hard-tack,  with  complete  unmindfulness  of  the  fact  that  battle  was 
raging  with  increased  clamor,  so  near  that  an  occasional  shell  fell 
even  among  the  tents,  and  were  hissing  and  cracking  anywhere  and 
everywhere,  with  a  most  reprehensible  carelessness  on  the  part  of 
their  projectors,  and  throwing  dirt  about  in  a  most  abandoned  and 
provoking  manner.  One  little  incident  in  connection  with  this 
subject  is  worth  mentioning,  being  the  cause  of  no  little  fun  among 
the  lookers  on. 

A  supernumerary  darkey,  making  himself  useful  about  camp, 
was  "  toting  "  a  box  of  hard-tack  on  his  head  toward  the  cook-fire 
of  one  of  the  companies,  when  a  sly  joker  of  a  shell  came  with  a 
horrible  screech,  knocking  the  box  in  splinters,  and  scattering  the 
crackers  like  a  pack  of  cards  in  a  gale  of  wind.  For  one  awful 
moment  the  horror  stricken  Clem  stood  irresolute,  then  suddenly 
turned  and  fled 

"  As  who  pursued  with  yell  and  blow, 
Still  treads  the  shadow  of  his  foe, 
And  forward  bends  his  head," 

and  the  last  we  saw  of  him  he  was  still  marking  time  in  the  dim 
distance,  the  tail  of  his  government  coat  erect  at  an  angle  of 
forty-five  degrees  with  his  shoulders,  and  frantically  flourishing  a 
fragment,  which  had  remained  in  his  hand,  of  the  demolished 
cracker  box. 

During  the  day  several  men  were  injured,  and  I  saw  our 
surgeons,  Wilcox  and  Peters,  busy  ac  their  post;  doing  their  best 
for  whoever  came.  All  through  the  day  before,  these  men, 
belonging  to  a  class  than  which  none  can  point  to  a  brighter  record 
of  brave  and  self-sacrificing  deeds,  had  exposed  themselves  with 
us,  ready  to  give  instant  succor  to  any  poor  fellow  who  might 
require  it. 

In  the  afternoon  Burnside  passed  our  rear,  to  the  right,  with 
his  long  train  of  heavy  siege  guns.  Banks  was  reported  to  have  it 
all  his  own  way  on  the  left,  and  the  movement  of  columns  visible 
from  the  high  ground  in  front,  and  lines  of  dust  rising  above  the 


234  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

trees,  across  the  river,  seemed  to  indicate  that  the  enemy,  failing-  to 
beat  us  back  at  this  point,  was  moving  to  turn  our  right.  Next  day 
this  became  evident.  The  firing  had  almost  ceased,  except  at 
desultory  intervals,  when  it  would  rage  furiously  from  point  to  point 
along  the  line,  for  a  short  time,  and  then  die  away.  It  was  apparent 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  enemy's  force  was  withdrawn  from  our 
front,  and  when,  at  ten  o'clock,  orders  came  for  a  forced  march,  no 
one  was  surprised. 

The  enemy  had  already  crossed  at  Sulphur  Springs,  some  six 
miles  above,  and  was  rapidly  moving  on  Warrenton ;  and,  unless  we 
could  succeed  in  again  heading  him  off,  the  result  could  not  but  be 
serious.  It  was  a  sultry  day,-  and  a  rain  storm  of  the  preceding 
night  did  not  at  all  tend  to  improve  the  road ;  like  all  others  in  this 
part  of  Virginia,  a  mere  bed  of  sticky  clay  after  every  shower.  We 
were  short  of  rations,  too,  and  not  a  few  had  been  content,  per  force, 
with  coffee  alone  at  the  morning  meal.  But  we  were  assured  that 
beef  had  been  drawn,  and  was  being  cooked  for  marching  rations, 
and  would  overtake  us  somewhere  on  the  road.  Sure  enough  we 
passed  old  Craig,  the  Quartermaster's  factotum,  and  a  general 
favorite,  about  a  mile  back,  busy  over  their  kettles ;  but  not  a 
morsel  of  the  savory  contents  did  we  get  until  late  that  night,  and  it 
has  always  been  a  wonder  to  me  how  even  our  experienced  Craig 
ever  got  through  the  hungry  hosts  in  our  rear,  with  his  precious 
charge. 

I  think  this  was  one  of  the  hardest  day's  marches  we  ever 
experienced.  General  Sigel,  now,  by  our  change  of  front,  in 
advance,  was  to  have  intercepted  the  enemy ;  but,  for  some  reason 
had  not  been  able  to  come  up  with  them,  until  they  had  crossed  the 
river  at  the  Sulphur  Springs.  Where  we  might  meet  their  cavalry 
was  a  question  not  yet  solved,  and  once  when  we  had  marched 
perhaps  six  miles,  we  were  met  with  rumors  of  their  near  approach, 
and  prepared  to  receive  them.  This  proved  a  false  alarm  ;  but  we 
took  the  occasion  to  rest,  and  fill  our  canteens.  The  scramble  for 
water,  where  the  supply  happened  to  be  limited,  was  always  a  lively 
one.  First,  a  rush  for  the  bucket,  which  was  sent  clattering  to  the 
cool  bottom,  while  an  eager,*  thirsty  crowd  elbowed  and  clawed  lor 
the  best  place,  and  gloated  over  the  limpid  coolness  as  it  rose 
sparkling  nearer  and  nearer,  until,  seized  by  a  dozen  hands  at  once, 
a  score  of  tin  cups  would  clash  above  it,  some  getting  a  little  of  the 
precious  nectar,  only  to  have  it  distributed  like  a  shower  of 
diamonds  by  the  unlucky  elbow  of  some  half  choked  comrade,  and 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  235 

the  more  fortunate  running-  aside  to  decant  the  priceless  cupful,  and 
again  rush  in  for  more.  And  the  bucket  is  dragged  back  and  forth 
in  the  swaying  crowd,  now  upon  the  ground  and  again  overhead,  as 
all  essay  to  secure  a  share  until  it  is  empty,  and  the  scene  is 
repeated. 

The  officers  are  usually  too  tired  to  interpose,  but  often  do  I 
remember  seeing  the  lamented  Hayward,  himself  as  tired  as  any, 
patiently  standing  at  the  windlass,  dealing  out  a  cupful  to  each 
soldier,  and  thus  supplying  a  large  number  in  half  the  time  that  a 
single  squad  would  have  consumed  in  the  way  I  have  described. 
But  this  was  ended  by  the  bugle  summons  to  fall  in,  and  again  we 
hurried  on.  The  day  grew  hotter  as  the  sun  approached  meridian, 
and  many  fell  out  by  the  road  side,  too  much  exhausted  to  march  a 
step  farther.  Threats  and  force  were  of  no  avail ;  hungry,  thirsty 
and  tired  out,  they  doggedly  sat  down  and  were  left  behind.  Some 
were  picked  up  by  the  ambulances,  and  those  who  only  needed  a 
little  rest  were  left  to  overtake  us  while  we  halted  for  the  night. 

A  heavy  thunder  storm,  soon  after  noon,  drenched  us 
completely,  and  rendered  the  roads  almost  impassable;  the  soft 
clay  kneading  up,  under  our  feet,  and  the  wheels  of  the  artillery 
and  wagon  trains,  until  each  government  shoe  represented  almost 
a  cubic  foot  of  the  sacred  soil. 

Almost  as  completely  used  up  as  when  we  halted  that  first 
night  on  the  Rappahannock,  we  entered  Warrentown  at  dark; 
cautiously,  as  we  were  the  advance  guard  of  the  column.  Our 
bivouac  that  night  was  upon  a  sort  of  common,  near  the  Warren 
Green  Hotel,  which  was  made  the  headquarters  of  the  corps,  being 
occupied  immediately  by  the  Generals  and  their  staff.  No  fires 
were  allowed,  as  the  enemy  were  supposed  to  be  near,  Fitzhugh 
Lee's  cavalry  having  left  the  town  just  in  advance  of  our  arrival. 
They  had  made  a  successful  raid  as  iar  as  Catlett's,  destroying  some 
of  the  supply  trains  and  capturing  about  one  hundred  prisoners, 
together  with  General  Pope's  personal  baggage. 

Our  own  supply  trains  had  been  dispatched  in  that  direction, 
and  our  last  rations  were  exhausted.  Late  at  night  the  Quarter 
master's  carts  came  up  with  the  beef  promised  in  the  morning,  and 
about  half  a  pound  was  dealt  out  to  each  man.  A  better  Quarter 
master  than  ours  never  issued  rations,  and  we  fared  better  on  this 
occasion  than  most  of  our  neighbors ;  so  there  was  little  grumbling, 
and  crawling  under  our  shelter  tents,  "  out  of  the  wet,"  we  forgot 
our  troubles. 


236  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

No  rations  were  to  be  had  next  morning-,  and  we  must  await  the 
arrival  of  a  train  from  Warrenton  Junction.  A  large  force  had  been 
at  work  on  the  railroad  all  night,  and  supplies  might  arrive  over 
this  route  by  noon ;  so  in  the  meantime  we  foraged.  Few  were  so 
fortunate  as  to  get  any  thing  better  than  green  corn,  hardly  safe  diet 
for  men  hungry  as  we,  although  there  was  little  danger  of  our 
getting  too  much  of  even  that.  So  we  boiled,  and  roasted,  and 
gnawed  it,  in  defiance  of  colic,  which,  after  all,  could  not  be  much 
worse  than  our  condition  of  semi-starvation. 

About  nine,  we  received  orders  to  move  forward  in  the  direction 
of  Sulphur  Springs.  I  must  admit  that  the  preparations  were  made 
with  considerable  grumbling,  but  we  drew  the  buckles  of  our  waist 
belts  a  couple  of  holes  tighter  than  usual,  and  when  fairly  under 
way  and  threading  the  streets  of  the  rebel  city,  we  forgot  our 
grievanaces  and  put  on  our  best  faces  for  the  edification  of  the 
inhabitants,  especially  the  fair  portion  thereof,  who  could  not  resist 
peeping  at  the  lines  of  good  looking  "  Yanks  "  who  were  filing  past. 
So  we  struck  up  "John  Brown's  body,"  and  the  song  was  caught 
up,  and  flew  from  rank  to  rank  until  the  whole  city  re-echoed  the 
refrain, 

"  Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah  ! 
His  soul  goes  marching  on." 

While  in  the  course  of  the  song  we  melodiously  declared  our 
stern  intention  of  suspending  Jeff.  Davis  from  a  "  sour  apple  tree," 
we  happened  to  be  just  in  front  of  a  parsonage,  and  the  expression 
of  intense  disgust  in  every  lineament  of  a  gray-headed  butternut 
who  stood  at  the  door,  was  intensely  funny.  Still  I  must  condemn 
the  disrespectful  remarks  with  which  some  of  our  rough  diamonds 
greeted  the  venerable  F.  F.  V.  Quoting  from  the  immortal  Doe- 
sticks,  they  called  him  "lemons,"  and  told  him  to  "go  in"  (which 
he  didn't  do),  also  interrogating  him  as  to  the  price  of  skulls  in  the 
Richmond  market,  whether  his  last  consignment  paid  well,  and 
whether  he  wouldn't  like  a  fresh  Yankee  for  breakfast ;  upon  which 
the  fine  old  fellow's  nose  suddenly  assumed  such  an  altitude  that 
we  seriously  apprehended  he  wouldn't  be  able  to  shut  his  mouth 
for  a  week. 

As  far  as  we  could  form  an  opinion  from  our  observations,  the 
citizens  were  all  sympathizers  with  the  rebel  cause,  many  of  them 
frankly  admitting  as  much.  However,  in  the  main,  they  were  wise 
and  courteous  enough  to  refrain  from  any  demonstrations  of  their 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  237 

ill  will,  although  a  few  of  those  whose  sex  bars  all  retaliation  to 
petty  insults,  seemed  to  forget  themselves,  in  emulation  perhaps  of 
their  patriotic  sisters  of  New  Orleans.  The  reader  will  possibly 
think  that  our  songs,  and  such  taunting  quips  and  jests  as  those 
instanced  above,  may  have  quite  justly  provoked  the  ire  of  our  fair 
enemies  ;  that  if  they  had  only  been  "  let  alone  "  we  would  have 
had  nothing  to  complain  of.  Not  so  !  As  a  rule,  I  am  proud  to  say 
that  our  own  men  were  gentlemanly  in  their  deportment,  careful  not 
to  insult  by  word  or  deed,  or  in  any  way  to  verify  the  prejudices 
imbibed  by  a  people  who  had  been  accustomed  to  hear  the  basest 
of  motives  ascribed,  and  the  vilest  of  epithets  applied  to  the  invading 
forces  of  the  Union.  Yet  some  there  were  among  us  who  lacked, 
perhaps,  that  steadiness  of  purpose  and  dignity  of  self  respect  that 
should  have  held  them  far  above  the  level  to  which  they  must 
descend,  in  bandying  coarse  wit  and  petty  insults  with  those  who 
chose  to  give  us  such  greeting. 

We  had  commenced  the  morning's  march,  expecting  to  reach 
the  Springs  or  meet  the  enemy  some  time  during  the  day.  But  we 
were  not  to  have  our  endurance  so  severely  tested.  The  heads  of 
the  l<  Q.  M."  Department  came  in  for  a  plentiful  share  of  anathemas 
on  that  morning,  for  a  hungrier  lot  of  fellows  probably  never 
slandered  a  Quartermaster ;  and  our  long  suffering  stomachs  were 
grumbling  various  mutinous  suggestions  when  relief  was  just  at 
hand.  General  Patrick  had  just  been  informed  that  some  unfortunate 
rebel  in  the  vicinity  was  the  owner  of  a  fine  herd  of  cattle  which 
had  been  spared  by  the  Confederate  forage-masters.  The  officer 
whose  duty  it  was  to  take  possession  of  supplies,  and  issue  the 
vouchers,  was  not  to  be  found;  but  our  need  was  pressing,  and, 
though  ordinarily  a  great  stickler  for  form,  no  man  could  more 
easily  or  summarily  dispense  with  them  when  the  exigencies  of  the 
service  required  it,  than  General  Patrick. 

"  Tell  Blank  not  to  wait  for  the  commissary,  but  to  take  those 
cattle,  and  issue  double  rations  to  the  men  im-me-di-ate-ly" 

There  was  an  instant  lifting  up  of  sullen  faces,  and  a  spontaneous 
cheer,  mingled  with  the  cries  of  "  bully  for  you,"  assured  the 
General  of  our  hearty  approval  of  his  action  in  the  premises ;  upon 
which  he  gravely  turned  in  his  saddle,  and  said  in  his  slow  and 
emphatic  manner,  "Yes,  my  men;  you  shall  all  have  your  bellies 
full  when  I  can  help  you  to  it,"  and  rode  on  to  select  a  halting 
place.  Our  "  beef  rations"  soon  walked  into  camp  upon  their  own 
legs,  and  we  attacked  them  with  all  the  fury  of  hunger  ;  a  couple 


238  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

of  dozen  were  soon  knocked  on  the  head,  and  dissected,  double 
rations  served  out  raw,  and  the  rest  plumped  into  the  kettles. 

We  marched  no  farther  that  day,  as  we  had  only  removed  far 
enough  to  get  the  division  out  of  town  and  into  good  camping 
places  along  the  road,  in  readiness  for  the  moment  when  we  should 
be  needed  in  front;  and  the  day  was  chiefly  passed,  as  the  boys 
said,  in  making  up  for  lost  time,  every  man  seeming  to  think  it  his 
duty  to  eat  all  his  arrears  of  rations,  if  he  died  in  the  attempt.  This 
sort  of  improvidence  is  characteristic  of  the  soldier,  exposed  as  he 
is  to  all  the  vicissitudes  of  fortune,  to-day  rioting  in  plenty,  with  no 
care  for  the  morrow,  which  may  chance  to  be  a  fast  day,  and 
thoughtlessly  intent  only  upon  this,  which  he  is  determined  to  make 
the  most  of  while  it  lasts,  "eat,  drink  and  be  merry,"  while  death 
may  stand  waiting  at  the  threshold  of  the  next. 

Monday,  the  25th,  we  lay  all  day  listening  to  the  booming  of 
Sigel's  cannon  in  the  South-west,  and  held  in  instant  readiness  to 
move  forward.  Our  camp  was  upon  the  brow  of  a  wood-crowned 
ridge  near  "  Fisher's  Forks,"  upon  the  Sulphur  Springs  road,  in 
one  of  the  loveliest  parts  of  this  favored  portion  of  Virginia.  From 
here  the  eye  opened  upon  a  wide  expanse  of  gently  undulating 
landscape,  the  warm  sun  brightly  developing  the  rich  brown,  and 
yellow,  and  distant  deep  purple  of  the  autumn,  burnishing  bright 
spots  in  the  dull  gold  of  the  trampled  fields,  deepening  the  green 
and  darkening  the  dusky  interior  shadows  of  the  cedar  copses,  and 
adding  another  touch  of  color  to  the  heather  on  the  hillsides.  Yes, 
the  autumn  was  coming  fast.  September  would  soon  shake  down 
the  chestnuts,  and  strew  the  ground  with  dry  leaves.  Death  was 
already  stretching  his  hand  toward  the  beautiful  children  of  the 
year,  and  they  were  putting  on  the  sober  raiment  of  decay,  satisfied 
with  their  work,  and  ready  to  mingle  with  the  dust,  until  another 
spring-time  should  come  and  call  them  up  in  new  forms  of  beauty. 

And  if,  in  looking  upon  the  scene,  and  thinking  such  thoughts, 
\ve  are  reminded  that  the  grim  harvester  may  select,  ere  many 
days,  some  from  among  us  to  fall  with  the  leaves,  yet  we  know  that 

" — the  seed  lies  safe  below 
The  fires  that  blaze  and  burn," 

and  that  in  good  time  it  will  spring  up  and  bear  its  fruit,  and  we 
shall  not  be  forgotten. 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  239 


CH  AFTER     XIII. 


To  Sulphur  Springs. — The  "  Flying  Dutchman,"  and  his  work. — A  Rebel  Picket  presents  arms  to 
our  General. — The  ball  opens. — Skirmishers  to  the  Front. — The  "  Tvventy-Onesters  "  develope 
a  capacity  for  "  keeping  a  hotel." — Outflanked  by  night. — Forced  march  to  Gainesville. — The 
battle  of  August  28th. — Jackson  repulsed. — Too  weak  to  risk  another  trial,  we  fall  back  to 
Manassas  by  night. 


WE  HAD  been  ordered,  the  evening-  before,  to  prepare  to 
march  at  an  early  hour,  and  soon  after  daybreak  on  the 
morning  of  Tuesday,  August  26th,  we  were  in  line  and  ready.  We 
had  packed  and  slung  our  knapsacks,  expecting  to  carry  them,  but, 
at  the  last  moment,  were  ordered  to  throw  them  off,  that  they 
might  be  loaded  into  the  wagon  trains  just  starting  for  the  rear. 

That  we  were  not  allowed  to  take  them  with  us  was  significant 
of  the  fact  that  we  were  preparing  for  severe  service,  to  which  what 
we  had  already  passed  would  seem,  comparatively,  but  play ;  such, 
it  is  now  evident,  was  the  expectation  of  those  who  were  qualified 
to  judge  and  direct,  by  a  better  knowledge  of  our  surroundings 
than  we  in  the  ranks  could  have ;  and  the  sequel  proves  that  they 
were  correct. 

So,  hastily  removing  our  blankets  and  tents,  and  slinging  them 
over  our  shoulders,  we  piled  our  packs,  and,  thus  disencumbered, 
gaily  took  the  road.  The  route  from  Warrenton  to  the  Fauquier 
Springs  is  famous  for  its  picturesque  beauty,  and  we  could  not  but 
be  delighted  with  its  ever  shifting  panorama  as  we  filed  over  and 
around  the  low  hills,  and  through  the  beech  and  maple  groves,  fresh 
with  the  dewy  breath  of  the  morning,  and  vocal  with  the  songs  of 
birds.  A  lovelier  day  for  a  stroll  through  these  pleasant  scenes' the 
enraptured  tourist  of  the  "piping  times  of  peace"  could  not  have 
desired ;  and  though  ours  was,  in  nature  and  intent,  anything  but  a 
pleasure  excursion,  yet  I  doubt  if  this  road  had  ever  been  trodden 
by  a  more  jolly,  rollicking  set  of  youngsters,  or  feasted  more 
appreciative  eyes,  since  "the  Spring,"  became  a  place  of  fashionable 
summer  resort. 

About  nine  o'clock  we  struck  the  forks  of  the  road,  near  Henn's 
house.  Here  we  saw  a  broken  gun  carriage,  and  other  traces  of 


240  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Sigel,  who  had  driven  the  enemy  across  the  river  the  day  before, 
and  then  hurried  to  the  right  to  oppose  him  at  Waterloo  Bridge. 
"The  Flying  Dutchman,"  as  our  boys  christened  him,  had  in  his 
erratic  way  been  making  himself  generally  useful  during  the  retreat, 
embarrassing  the  enemy  with  his  artillery,  and  driving  him  back 
successively  at  Kelly's  Ford,  Freeman's  Bridge,  and  Waterloo;  and 
now  could  be  still  heard  at  intervals  pounding  away  on  our  right, 
where  we  supposed  the  main  force  of  the  rebel  column  to  be.  Our 
General  had  received  orders  to  advance  with  his  brigade  across  the 
river,  and  feel  for  the  rear  of  that  column,  our  object  being  merely 
a  reconnoissance,  and  no  one  imagining  that  we  should  find  this  point 
still  in  possession  of  the  enemy.  We  soon  came  in  sight  of  what 
seemed  a  village  of  some  size,  or  (judging  by  the  local  standard, 
which  dignifies  every  cross  road  corner,  with  a  grog  shop,  two  or 
more  tumble-down  log  houses,  a  hay  stack  and  a  sign  post,  with  a 
high  sounding  name,)  a  town  even,  and  larger  than  many  a  one  we 
had  seen  that  could  boast  a  charter  as  old  as  the  reign  of  the 
Georges.  At  a  nearer  approach  we  were  struck  by  its  air  of  deso 
lation  and  unnatural  quiet.  No  living  thing  was  in  sight,  and  the 
smoke,  that  at  first  seemed  to  rise  from  chimneys,  among  the  trees, 
dimly  revealed  broken  walls  and  charred  timbers  slowly  smouldering 
among  the  ruins.  Along  the  principal  and  almost  only  public  street, 
we  passed  riddled  and  broken  brick  work,  scattered  furniture,  partly 
in  fragments,  open  doors  and  windows  revealing  naught  but  bare 
and  defaced  walls,  charred  and  withered  trees,  smoke,  ashes  and 
desolation ;  telling  a  tale  that  war  writes  over  and  over  again,  and 
men  as  often  forget.  Would  to  God  the  brave  but  misguided  youth 
of  the  "  Old  Dominion,"  could  have  turned  forward  to  the  page  this 
day  has  written  in  the  history  of  their  State,  while  there  was  yet 
time  to  save  her  from  such  a  fate.  Our  regiment  holding  the  right 
of  the  column  was  the  first  to  enter  the  place.  General  Patrick, 
with  his  staff,  was  a  short  distance  in  advance.  He  had  understood 
that  cavalry  would  precede  us,  so  rode  on  confident  of  being 
informed  in  time  should  we  gain  the  enemy's  vicinity. 

The  two  large  hotels  which,  with  their  extended  establishments, 
comprised  the  bulk  of  the  place,  were  just  on  either  side  of  our 
colors  as  the  head  of  the  column  began  to  descend  the  slope  toward 
the  river,  when  suddenly  the  deathlike  stillness  of  the  place  was 
broken  by  a  rattling  volley  at  the  bend  of  the  road,  just  in  front, 
where  it  crossed  the  river.  The  sound  had  hardly  ceased  to 
reverberate  amonyf  the  ruins,  before  every  musket  was  loaded,  and 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  241 

the  line  ready  to  advance  again.  In  the  meantime  an  aid  came 
galloping  frantically  past  without  his  hat,  with  orders  for  the  artillery 
in  our  rear;  and  then  our  General,  for  whose  safety  we  had  at  first 
trembled,  came  coolly  riding  back,  followed  by  his  staff,  as  though 
nothing  unusual  had  occurred."' 

We  were  now  sent  into  the  corn  fields  on  the  right  of  the  road, 
and  ordered  to  hold  them,  falling  back  on  the  buildings  for  shelter 
if  hard  pressed  in  our  somewhat  exposed  situation.  A  line  of 
skirmishers  was  instantly  deployed  along  the  bank,  where  a  few 
trees  afforded  a  sort  of  cover  for  our  sharp-shooters,  and  the  rest 
lay  down  upon  the  hill  side.  Hardly  as  much  time  elapsed  as  I 
have  taken  to  relate  this,  when,  with  a  hoarse  screech,  the  first  shell 
came  crashing  among  the  buildings,  and,  as  if  by  signal,  three 
batteries  opened  upon  us  from  the  opposing  hill-tops,  at  just  the 
right  range  for  effect.  At  the  same  time  the  fences  and  lines  of 
brushy  wall  across  the  river,  seemed  to  take  fire  in  a  hundred 
places.  The  bullets  came  singing  and  skipping  along  the  ground, 
and  over  our  heads  ;  while  the  sharp  crackling  of  the  rifle  muskets 
of  our  skirmishers  made  instant  reply,  and  the  reserve  grouped  in 
the  most  sheltered  places,  to  pick  off  the  gray-backs  who  now  began 
to  show  themselves,  running  irom  cover  to  cover,  toward  the  river, 
and  becoming  every  moment  better  marks,  while  the  increased 
accuracy  of  their  firing  made  us  hug  the  ground. 

But  the  combined  effect  of  shell  and  bullets  soon  made  this 
place  too  warm  for  comfort,  and  the  Colonel  gave  the  word  to  fall 
back  upon  the  cottages.  A  long  row  of  these  extended  rearward 
from  each  wing  of  the  main  hotel,  in  a  semi-circle,  meeting  near  the 
river,  and  enclosing,  perhaps,  twenty  acres  of  ground. 

Just  at  this  instant  a  thunderous  discharge  shakes  the  ground 
in  our  rear.  It  is  our  own  batteries,  which  have  reached  good 
positions,  and  are  now  hurling  back  the  favors  of  our  warm  friends 


;;;  It  appeared  that  the  enemy's  pickets  occupied  the  banks  of  the  river,  some  of  them  on  this 
side,  when  General  Patrick,  all  unconscious  of  their  presence,  rode  up  to  the  very  bank.  So  intent 
was  he  examining  the  condition  of  the  bridge  and  ford,  that  he  did  not  notice  the  presence  of  persons 
on  the  bank.  The  rebels  appeared  much  surprised,  and,  as  the  General  wore  a  gray  felt  hat, 
evidently  took  him  for  one  of  their  own  officers,  as  one  presented  arms  to  him.  while  several  others, 
coming  out  of  the  bushes,  directed  his  attention  to  the  crossing  place  or  ford.  One  of  his  officers 
spoke  to  him  several  times  without  attracting  his  attention,  when  one  of  them  spoke  up  loudly  and 
said  "  General,  these  are  gray  coats  I  "  The  whole  party  immediately  turned,  and  the  rebels,  by  this 
time  discovering  who  and  what  they  were,  immediately  fired  a  volley  after  them,  but,  very 
fortunately,  did  not  hit  one  of  the  party.  The  escape  was  a  most  remarkable  one.  Had  the  rebels 
kept  under  cover,  the  General  and  his  party  might  easily  have  been  taken  prisoners.— Extract  frcm 
a  letter  written  by  Colonel  Rogers. 


242  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

across  the  river,  thus  drawing  a  share  of  their  attentions  from  us. 
Thus  we  lie  between  the  two  fires  all  day,  the  gunners  having  the 
best  of  the  play  all  to  themselves,  and  we  just  enough  exposed  to 
make  the  game  interesting.  At  about  eleven,  the  2d  regiment  of 
Berdan's  sharp-shooters  are  deploying  along  the  river  with  ours, 
other  regiments  move  down  upon  our  flanks,  and  the  musket  firing 
becomes  continuous. 

Up  to  this  time  we  have  seen  no  one  hurt,  although  hair-breadth 
escapes  are  plenty ;  but  now,  two  of  the  Berdans  come  up  from  the 
river,  bearing  a  stretcher  upon  which  is  something,  in  human  form, 
covered  with  a  blanket,  and  from  it  the  blood  is  slowly  dropping  as 
they  pass.  At  noon  there  is  a  slight  lull ;  but  the  ever  watchful 
marksmen  along  the  river  take  good  care  of  their  chances,  and  a 
rattling  discharge  from  time  to  time,  tells  of  danger  to  some  unwary 
grayback. 

What  are  the  men  of  the  reserve  doing  here  among  the 
buildings!  It  is  time  for  dinner;  and  a  soldier's  stomach  has  a 
good  memory,  generally  ignoring  any  risk  its  fellow  members  may 
incur  in  satisfying  its  demands.  So,  among  the  smoking  ruins  of 
the  hotel,  we  stir  together  the  embers  and  the  unconsumed 
fragments,  and  blow  up  a  blaze,  each  one  for  himself,  over  which 
our  old  black  coffee  cups  are  soon  simmering.  Meantime,  while 
one  eye  watches  the  coffee,  the  other  is  kept  warily  "  to  windward," 
for  an  occasional  misdirected  shell  or  "  tumbler,"  sends  a  few  yards 
of  brick  wall  crashing  down  among  the  rubbish,  causing  some 
sudden  changes  of  base  on  the  part  of  those  who  chance  to  be  near, 
and  flavoring  our  coffee  by  adding  a  dash  of  lime,  brick  dust,  and 
cinders.  Then,  in  groups  we  crouch  under  the  trees  and  discuss 
our  simple  meal,  the  contrast  between  the  present  and  past, 
accustomed  scenes  of  the  place,  coming  vividly  to  mind. 

In  the  old  times  here,  many  a  gay  party  met  around  the  board, 
with  its  offering  to  luxury  and  taste.  Fair  women  smiled,  sparkling 
wine  went  round  in  honor  to  ruby  lips,  mad  wit  flashed  and  rippling 
aughter  answered.  The  fountains  tinkled  and  cooled  the  evening 
air,  the  trees  whispered  together  above  happy  lovers,  and  music 
timed  the  tread  of  dancing  feet.  That  is  past.  Here  are  now  only 
groups  of  dark  and  bearded  men ;  rough  fellows  with  nothing  of  the 
butterfly  about  them,  seated  among  ashes  and  upon  the  scorched 
grass,  eating  hard-tack  and  drinking  black  coffee,  to  the  music  of 
the  booming  cannon.  The  fountains  are  silent,  murderous  men 
crawl  along  the  paths  where  the  lovers  used  to  walk,  the  trees  rustle 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  243 

drearily  and  clash  their  withered  leaves,  and  the  mad  rush  of 
wailing,  screeching  shot  and  shell  is  the  hideous  substitute  for  the 
lively  music  of  the  dance. 

The  afternoon  sun  marches  slowly  toward  the  West,  and  still, 
with  little  change,  the  tragedy  of  the  day  progresses.  Now  and 
then,  a  battery  changes  position,  but  the  cannonade  is  almost 
uninterrupted,  and  the  line  of  sharp-shooters  is  augmented  by  many 
stragglers  from  the  rear,  who  have  come  up  to  the  front  to  see  the 
fun.  Many  of  the  reserve,  too,  tired  of  lying  under  the  trees,  and 
dodging  among  falling  walls,  are  taking  a  hand  in  the  game,  which 
shortly  becomes  interesting.  A  body  of  the  enemy,  perhaps  two 
hundred  strong,  succeed  in  reaching  a  sort  of  natural  rifle-pit  near 
the  river,  and  immediately  all  our  attentions  are  directed  to  this 
point.  The  rebs  soon  discover  that  they  are  in  a  tight  place,  i'or 
our  fire  is  rapid  and  certain,  and  our  position  sheltered.  Not  a  man 
can  leave  the  trap ;  some  essay  a  sudden  break  to  the  rear,  and  the 
crack  of  the  Springfields  knells  their  doom,  and  the  rest  find  it 
exceedingly  unsafe  to  show  their  heads. 

Just  at  this  interesting  juncture  there  is  a  call  for  Major  Thomas, 
and  a  report  that  a  flag  of  truce  is  approaching.  We  are  ordered 
to  cease  firing,  the  batteries  have  already  done  so,  and  there  is  a 
gathering  of  both  sides,  an  eager,  interested  crowd,  at  the  bridge. 
WThat  it  can  mean,  all  are  curious  to  know,  and  while  we  watch  and 
wait,  our  friends  in  the  trap  rise  as  one  man,  and  scud  up  the  hill. 
There  is  a  deprecating  yell  as  we  take  in  the  ruse,  and  shouts  of 
"  Come  back,  rebs  !"  and  "  Here  :  that  ain't  fair  ! "  follow  this  breach 
of  all  military  justice.  We  dare  not  fire  while  the  truce  is  pending, 
and  so  we  look  on  while  our  boasted  Virginian  "  chivalry  "  take  to 
their  heels  and  the  shelter  of  a  cowardly  breach  of  faith,  confiding 
in  the  fact  that  we  "  mud-sills  "  will  not  break  ours. 

The  ostensible  object  of  this  deputation,  was  to  return  a  woman, 
one  of  the  "vivandieres  "  of  Sigel's  corps,  whom  they  had  captured 
the  day  before.  Her  dress  was  the  usual  infantry  uniform,  and  she 
presented,  in  that  respect,  not  a  shade  of  contrast  to  the  guard  who 
conducted  her  to  the  rear.  Even  her  fair  hair  was  clipped  close  to 
her  head,  and  she  looked  as  capable  of  good  service  with  a  musket 
as  many  of  the  juniors  in  our  ranks.  Altogether,  I  thought  as  she 
marched  along  in  her  air  of  perfect  unconcern,  she  would  have 
furnished  a  good  reply  to  the  romantic  notions  of  some  of  our  dear 
girls  at  home,  who,  in  their  enthusiasm  would  have  marched  to  the 
field  with  their  fathers  and  brothers. 


244  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

While  the  truce  lasted  our  friends  in  gray  were  busily  engaged 
in  lugging  off  their  dead,  but  when  the  firing  recommenced,  they 
did  not  seem  to  care  for  a  renewal  of  the  close  work  of  the  morning. 
The  batteries,  however,  were  as  busy  as  before,  until  with  the 
approach  of  darkness  the  din  of  conflict  gave  place  to  becoming 
quiet. 

Not  doubting  but  that  ere  morning  we  should  have  to  repel  an 
attack  in  force,  we  lay  down  in  line  upon  the  inner  circle  of  pavement 
which  surrounded  the  grounds,  our  trusty  muskets  in  our  arms,  and 
our  "  harness  "  still  upon  our  backs.  Much  need  we  had  of  sleep, 
for  many  a  weary  day  the  sun  would  rise,  and  set,  and  rise  again, 
before  another  night  of  unbroken  rest  would  be  ours. 

At  an  early  hour  next  morning  we  were  ready  to  begin  again. 
The  sun  rose  in  his  glory,  and  still  we  waited.  Seven  o'clock,  eight, 
and  still  a  suspicious  silence  brooded  upon  the  opposing  hills ;  not 
a  gray  uniform  or  slouched  hat,  not  even  the  smoke  of  a  camp-fire 
visible.  What  did  it  mean  ?  Could  it  be  a  trap  for  our  advance, 
or  had  our  enemy  risen  in  his  strength  by  night,  and  —  run  away  ? 
No  way  was  left,  but  to  reconnoitre  and  see  for  ourselves.  So  a 
line  of  skirmishers  deploy  along  the  river,  cross  as  best  they  can, 
and  slowly,  under  cover  of  tree,  and  rock,  and  bush,  creep  up  the 
steep  ascent,  while  their  comrades  look  on  with  anxious  eyes  that 
watch  for  the  instant  expected  leap  of  flame  from  the  top.  Our 
gunners  have  already  sent  shell  after  shell,  screaming  defiance  and 
crashing  among  those  trees,  without  any  answer  but  the  grumbling 
of  sleepy  echoes,  and  now  stand  at  their  pieces  waiting  and 
watching.  They  gain  the  top,  and  are  lost  to  us  among  the  trees. 
Anxious  moments  pass,  but  no  rattle  of  fire-arms  sends  back 
warning,  and  finally  they  are  seen  again,  slowing  coming  down  the 
road,  and  we  know  that  here  we  have  nothing  more  to  do. 

The  brigades  hastily  form  and  move  into  the  road,  and  by  nine 
we  are  again  under  way,  retracing  our  steps  of  the  clay  before.  It 
had  been  ascertained  that  the  force  we  had  met,  a  division  of 
Anderson's,  and  the  last  to  leave  Richmond,  had  followed  the  main 
body  up  the  river.  "Another  move  in  the  flanking  game"  had 
commenced,  directed  upon  Thoroughfare  Gap,  through  which,  though 
we  did  not  then  know  it,  the  enemy's  advance  had  already  passed  to 
attack  our  communications  at  Manassas.  Sigel  had  already  left 
Warrenton,  and  the  other  divisions,  Reynolds',  King' sand  Ricketts,' 
were  to  follow  on  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named,  the  object 
being  to  hurl  back  those  advancing  columns. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  245 

The  fatigue*  of  that  march  none  of  us  will  soon  forget.  The  first 
day  was  intensely  hot,  the  sand  took  the  feet  into  its  burning  depth  at 
every  step,  and  there  were  no  halts  by  cool  wayside  springs.  Our 
regiment  was  again  the  rear  guard,  and  parties  of  "flankers"  were 
kept  at  a  safe  distance  on  either  side  to  watch  for  possible  cavalry. 
These  were  relieved  every  few  miles,  until  wre  reached  Warrenton, 
where  we  passed  the  division  of  General  Ricketts,  and  the  duty 
devolved  upon  them. 

Short  rations  had  been  given  us  that  morning,  and  fatigue  wore 
proportionately  fast  upon  us.  There  was  a  short  halt  soon  after  dark, 
and  a  search  for  water,  after  which  we  again  plodded  on. 

Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  eyes  seeing  nothing,  and  the  feet  moving 
only  by  habit,  while  the  ear  dulls  to  the  clanking  of  bayonet  and 
canteen,  until  roused  by  the  hoarse  "  Close  up,"  or  still  less  agreeably, 
by  a  smart  thud  from  the  musket  of  some  sleepy  comrade  ;  or 
stumbling  upon  the  heels  of  your  file  leader  ;  or  your  rear  man  upon 
yours  ;  habitual  duty  working  hard  to  keep  down  rebellious  nature, 
and  feverish  dreams  mingling  wierdly  with  your  snatches  of  waking 
recognition  ;  you  will  recall  them  all,  reader,  if  you  have  ever 
made  a  night  march  when  hours  were  so  precious  that  even  those 
God  has  given  to  rest  were  taken  from  you  by  the  hard  hand 
of  war' s  necessity. 

Some  time  after  midnight  we  made  a  halt  of  a  couple  of  hours 
near  Gainesville.  Many  slept  soundly  until  time  to  foil  in  again,  while 
others  hurriedly  boiled  their  coffee  and  secured  its  refreshing  sedative 
before  they  sought  to  snatch  a  little  rest.  Up  again  long  ere 
daybreak,  a  paltry  ration  of  hard  bread  is  given  each  man,  and  again, 
on.  Hunger  is  the  most  powerful  of  demoralizing  agents,  and  the 
full  force  of  this  fact  became  apparent  before  long.  This  was  the  time 
when  Sigel  was  heard  to  say,  "  A  biscuit  just  now  is  worth  more  than 
a  bayonet,"  and  he  was  right. 

We  marched  through  Gainesville,  and  almost  over  the  spot 
where  we  lay  upon  our  return  from  that  fruitless  chase  after  Jackson, 
early  in  the  clay.  Shortly  before  this  we  passed  a  squad  of  rebel 
prisoners,  who  had  been  captured  that  morning  by  Sigel,  at  an  old 
church  on  the  road.  They  claimed  to  be  the  rear  guard  of  the  rebel 
column  which  was  said  to  be  shortly  in  our  front. 

Firing  was  heard  in  front  from  time  to  time,  but  we  had  ceased 
to  interest  ourselves  in  every  noise  that  spoke  of  battle,  as  was  once 
our  habit.  If  those  fellows  ahead  chose  to  waste  powder  and  make 
fools  of  themselves,  it  was  no  concern  of  ours,  and  we  said  so.  Most 


246  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

of  our  feverish  anxiety  to  get  into  battle  was  gone.  True,  we  had  not 
yet  seen  any  very  severe  fighting,  but  we  had  seen  enough  to  content 
us  with  just  as  much  as  fell  to  our  lot,  without  grumbling  for  more. 
Recruits  might  do  that  and  welcome,  but  as  for  us,  enough  was  just 
as  good  as  a  feast. 

So  we  loped  along,  wondering  where  the  next  rations  would  come 
from.  Green  corn  we  might  have,  and  our  prisoners  had  lived  on 
that  for  a  week;  why  shouldn't  we?  But  it  was  poor  fare,  and 
indulgence  had  unpleasant  consequences,  so  we  looked  hard  and  long 
at  it  before  we  ate. 

At  twelve  o'clock  we  halted  to  give  the  men  rest,  and  a  chance 
to  make  their  coffee.  A  forest  on  the  right  of  the  road  afforded  a 
grateful  shade  from  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  we  bathed  our  blistered 
feet  in  a  little  stream  that  rippled  through  its  cool  shadows.  In  front 
was  a  stretch  of  open,  furzy  meadow,  commanded  by  a  hill  beyond. 
Here  Reynolds'  division  had  met  the  enemy  in  the  morning,  and  a 
light  engagement  ensued.  A  battery  opened  upon  his  advance  from 
the  hill,  and  here  he  had  deployed  his  column. 

"After  a  short  but  sharp  action,  the  enemy  retired,  and  when 
our  skirmishers  occupied  the  hill,  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 
Supposing  from  the  movements  of  this  force  that  it  was  some  rear 
guard  or  cavalry  party,  with  artillery,  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  the 
march  of  the  division,  after  caring  for  the  killed  and  wounded,  was 
resumed,  and  it  turned  off  to  the  South  of  the  road,  to  go  to 
Manassas. ' ' 

The  paragraph  I  have  just  quoted  is  from  General  McDowell's 
report,  which  may  be  found  in  that  published  by  Major  General  Pope. 
The  traces  of  battle  were  still  apparent  when  we  arrived.  In  an  old 
log  house  which  stood  in  the  edge  of  a  corn  field,  lay  the  mangled 
bodies  of  those  whom  their  comrades  had  not  time  to  bury,  and  in  a 
corner  was  a  collection  of  those  chips  the  surgeons  make  in  ' '  squaring 
the  ends  "  of  poor  fellows  who  chance  to  get  them  "  rough  hewed  " 
by  the  dire  hand  of  battle. 

Tired  as  they  were,  and  desperately  careless  of  the  risk  they  ran 
of  capture  or  sudden  death  at  the  hands  of  skulking  bushwhackers, 
many  of  the  boys  strayed  out  in  search  of  something  to  eat.  We 
knew  that  we  were  setting  aside  all  discipline  in  so  doing,  but  our 
necessity  was  our  warrant  ;  we  knew  we  must  fight  soon,  and  fighting 
on  an  empty  stomach  is  hard  work. 

I  had  nearly  reached  camp,  with  my  haversack  and  arms  full  of 
green  apples  and  corn,  when  I  was  a  witness  to  one  of  those  incidents 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  247 

common  to  wftr  time,  and  illustrative  of  the  fact  that  ' '  hunger 
knows  no  law." 

A  rascally  suiter,  one  of  that  harpy  tribe  who  follow  an  army  as 
long  as  a  greenback  (or  its  equivalent)  remains  in  the  soldier's 
pocket,  had  somehow  got  through  from  Centreville,  with  a  large  load 
of  eatables,  tobacco,  and  whiskey.  The  latter  commodity  being 
contraband,  would  by  right  have  caused  the  regular  confiscation  of 
his  load,  but  the  boys  would  not  have  informed  on  him.  The  wretch 
knew  that  the  men  were  "short"  of  rations,  and,  relying  upon 
protection  by  the  officers,  determined  to  reach  a  profit  that  should 
make  that  load  a  good  investment  if  he  never  sold  another. 

Finding  that  it  would  take  about  half  a  month's  pay  to  get 
enough  of  his  "bolognas,"  bread,  and  cheese,  to  satisfy  a  hungry 
man,  and  many  being  reduced  to  the  dregs  of  their  last  pay,  the  boys 
grew  angry,  and  when  some  one  raised  the  cry  of  "  clean  him  out," 
there  was  a  rush.  The  harpy  flew  heels  over  neck  from  his  roost, 
the  canvas  cover  disappeared,  there  was  a  momentary  swarming  of 
blue  jackets  and  caps,  and  then  cheeses,  loaves,  jars,  chains  of 
sausages,  and  black  bottles  flew  in  every  direction,  so  that  all  might 
share,  and  in  less  time  than  you  have  been  reading  it,  all  was  over  ; 
the  wagon  stood  empty  and  folorn,  and  the  crowd  had  dispersed. 

A  Major  of  Gibbons'  brigade  rode  round  the  wagon,  presenting 
his  revolver,  and  calling  upon  the  men  to  desist.  But  no  one  seemed 
to  see  him,  and  I  saw  that  it  went  against  his  heart  to  fire  upon  men 
in  such  a  strait  of  hunger,  and  somehow  he  didn't  think  to  cock  his 
revolver  until  the  wagon  was  effectually  stripped. 

Little  satisfaction  our  friend  of  the  hooked  beak  got  when  he 
went  to  complain  to  our  Colonel.  None  of  the  officers  could  tell 
which  of  their  men  had  left  the  stacks,  and  he  of  the  speculative  eye 
went  on  his  way,  full  of  ungodliness  and  wrath. 

The  sun  had  rolled  half  down  the  West  ere  we  were  again  called 
to  shoulder  our  muskets  and  take  the  road  toward  Groveton.  Our 
army  was  now  converging  toward  Manassas,  the  different  corps 
forming  a  line  from  the  Manassas  Railroad  to  some  distance  left  of  the 
Warrenton  and  Centreville  turnpike.  Partly  in  the  fields,  but  mostly 
in  the  woods,  our  own  division  following  the  turnpike,  McDowell's 
corps  was  moving  on  in  the  general  direction  indicated.  Distant 
cannonading  reached  our  ears,  but  we  paid  little  attention  to  the 
accustomed  sound,  and  marched  on  unsuspicious  of  clanger. 

It  was  near  sunset,  and  we  had  left  Gainesville  perhaps  three 
miles  behind.  Tired  and  hungry,  the  soothing  coolness  of  the  hour 


248  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

was  a  balm  to  our  senses,  and  drowsily  we  swung"  along"  the  grassy 
roadside,  taking"  in  the  soft  beauty  of  the  scene,  and  no  one  dreaming 
that  danger  and  death  lurked  in  those  quiet  woods,  so  beautiful  with 
the  soft  radiance  of  the  sun's  last  smile. 

Suddenly  the  roar  of  cannon  broke  the  spell,  and  woke  the 
peaceful  landscape  to  a  scene  of  carnage  and  confusion.  The  shell 
fell  with  deadly  accuracy  among  the  troops  just  in  advance.  A  rebel 
battery  upon  a  hill  just  in  front  and  upon  our  left  having"  got  their 
exact  range,  and  with  the  first  note  of  warning  piling  the  men  of 
Gibbons'  and  Doubleday's  brigades  right  and  left  upon  the  road. 
For  a  moment  all  was  confusion,  and  then,  while  we  paused  and 
formed  our  line,  the  brigades  in  advance  moved  hurriedly  on,  and 
into  the  shelter  of  the  woods.  And  now  the  shell  begin  to  fly  over 
us  and  knock  up  the  dust  in  the  road.  Anxiously  we  wait  for  orders 
to  move  on  and  join  our  comrades,  whose  battle-cry  comes  mingled 
with  the  sudden  roll  of  their  musketry,  from  beyond  the  woods.  Aids 
gallop  across  the  field,  and  the  smoke  rolls  up  from  the  batteries,  and 
lines  are  seen  momentarily  swaying  back  and  forth,  while  sheets  of 
flame  flash  in  the  shadows  of  the  forest,  and  still  the  unceasing  cheers 
come  to  our  ears.  And  now  our  own  position  is  growing  hot,  and 
the  rebel  bolts  drop  thicker  and  faster  all  around.  A  line  of 
skirmishers  is  sent  out  to  the  left,  and  the  balance  of  the  regiment 
moved  into  the  woods  upon  the  right. 

Night  approaches  rapidly,  and  still  the  combat  rages,  and  silently 
we  wait  until  the  foe  in  our  own  front  shall  be  unmasked.  But 
darkness  comes  apace  ;  an  hour  passes  and  we  do  not  move,  while 
gradually  the  din  grows  fainter,  and  merges  into  a  slow,  irregular 
succession  of  discharges,  like  the  firing  of  a  line  of  skirmishers.  And 
now  comes  a  call  for  volunteers  to  help  in  the  wounded  on  our  right. 
An  hundred  willing"  voices  respond,  and  our  little  detachment  hurries 
down  the  road.  The  signs  of  battle  soon  thicken.  First  a  disabled 
battery,  slowly  hauling  to  the  rear  ;  then  we  begin  to  pass  the 
ambulances,  with  their  moaning  loads,  and  the  sickening  smell  of 
blood  steams  up  from  the  road.  Groups  of  the  slightly  wounded, 
still  able  to  help  themselves  off,  and  only  wanting  water,  come  next, 
with  bearers  stooping  under  the  burden  of  their  loaded  stretchers, 
upon  which,  mangled  and  distorted  in  agony,  or  happily  unconscious 
of  their  grievous  wounds,  others  are  being  carried  to  the  surgeons. 
There,  in  a  corner  of  the  fence,  lies  a  slight  boyish  form  in  the  arms 
of  two  comrades ;  the  face  is  white  and  peaceful,  the  eyes  are  closed, 
and  one  stoops  with  his  ear  to  the  faintly  moving  lips,  catching" 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  249 

perhaps  a  last  sacred  message  to  those  who  wait  in  vain  to  welcome 
him  in  his  far  Wisconsin  home. 

He  is  past  help,  from  us,  we  must  step  over  the  stream  of  his 
life,  wetting  the  thankless  soil,  and  seek  for  those  who  are  not.  We 
find  them  in  plenty  ;  and  for  a  sad  half  hour  are  engaged  in  giving 
such  assistance  as  we  can,  and  then  we  hasten  back  to  find  our 
regiment. 

Patrick's  brigade  has  been  ordered  to  the  right  to  relieve  the 
wearied  men  of  Gibbon  and  Doubleday  upon  the  field  ;  so  we  meet 
our  column  upon  the  road  and  fall  into  our  places.  When  the 
column  has  reached  the  cover  of  the  wood  it  is  faced  to  the  front, 
and  then,  that  the  enemy  may  be  deceived  into  the  belief  that  rein 
forcements  have  arrived,  cheer  upon  cheer  is  sent  up  as  we  move 
into  the  pitchy  blackness  of  the  woods.  At  every  step  the  line  is 
broken  to  admit  the  wounded  and  their  helpers,  and  we  stumble 
upon  the  dying  and  the  dead.  At  the  front  of  the  wood  our  line  is 
formed,  commanding  the  open  ground  in  front.  The  arms  are 
stacked,  a  picket  is  detailed,  and  then,  weary,  hungry,  and  almost 
disheartened,  the  rest  lie  down  to  seek  a  little  forgetfulness  in  sleep. 

It  is  my  lot  to  be  among  the  watchers,  and  as  I  pace  my  beat  I 
must  guard  my  uncertain  steps,  for  here  in  solemn  state  lie  two  oi 
our  dead  heroes,  and  yonder  are  more  of  them,  and  out  in  front  they 
are  lying  thick  as  forest  leaves  where  they  fell;  and  anon  I  hear 
that  awful  sound,  the  cry  of  some  abandoned  sufferer  dying  in 
agony  alone.  Sometimes  there  comes  a  sound,  the  most  horrid  I  have 
ever  heard  ;  breaking  the  deathly  stillness  of  the  night  with  a  long 
unearthly  wail, — that  freezes  the  blood  with  its  tone  of  horror,  and 
I  know  that  some  noble  beast  that  carried  its  rider  bravely  into  the 
thickest  of  the  fray,  is  calling  in  his  extremity  for  help.  Now  and 
then  a  light  twinkles  faintly  out  there  in  front,  moving  slowly  and 
uncertainly,  as  if  held  at  each  step  to  pale  damp  faces  which  I  seem 
to  see,  their  eyes  stony  and  fixed  as  if  the  soul  had  passed  out 
thence,  and  they  still  watched  its  flight  toward  the  eternal  gates. 
Poor  clods,  they  must  wait  long  ere  kind  hands  will  give  back  their 
earth  to  earth  ;  no  comrades  will  follow  with  slow  step,  no  "  farewell 
shot"  over  their  graves  cause  the  cold  heart  to  leap  once  more 
in  its  sleep  at  the  remembered  sound,  no  brother's  tears  glisten 
upon  the  fresh  turf. 

At  one  o'clock  the  sleepers  are  roused  with  a  shake  and  a 
whispered  warning  to  fall  in  and  take  arms  without  noise ;  silently, 
like  a  line  of  shadows  we  form  and  move  into  the  road  ;  the  brigade 


250  CHRONICLES     OF  THE 

is  already  in  motion,  each  regiment  filing  into  its  place,  and  once 
more  we  are  retreating.  Our  belief  that  we  had  fallen  in  with 
Jackson's  entire  army  had  been  confirmed  by  the  examination  of 
prisoners  taken  during  the  night.  General  Ricketts  had  also 
engaged  the  enemy  on  our  left,  near  Thoroughfare  Gap,  holding 
him  in  check  and  forcing  him  back  ;  but  finding  him  crossing  above 
on  his  right,  at  Hopewell  Gap,  and  threatened  with  being  turned 
on  his  left,  he  had  fallen  back  at  dark  to  Gainesville.  Here  he 
found  General  King,  and,  learning  his  intention  to  retreat  at  one 
o'clock  upon  Manassas,  determined  to  do  the  same  by  the  way  of 
.Bristow.  Reynolds  and  Sigel  still  held  a  position  near  Groveton, 
and  our  present  movement  would  bring  us  upon  their  left  and  in  a 
position  once  more  to  confront  the  enemy  in  line,  and  protect  our 
communications  by  way  of  Centreville. 

If  our  marches  heretofore  had  been  accompanied  with  extreme 
suffering,  what  shall  I  say  of  this  one.  For  many  days  we  had 
endured  short  rations,  and  for  the  last  of  these  we  had  almost  lived 
on  unripe  corn.  Few  were  free  from  the  exhausting  debility 
resulting  from  such  fare  and  undue  exertion  in  the  August  heat, 
and,  to  crown  all,  for  the  last  two  days  we  had  been  without  rations 
and  almost  constantly  upon  our  feet. 

We  left  the  turnpike,  almost  at  the  point  where  the  action 
had  commenced,  and  took  the  road  for  Manassas  Junction ;  and  so 
silently  had  all  been  conducted  that  no  suspicion  of  our  movement 
occurred  to  the  rebel  hosts  who  lined  our  front,  and  who  might 
have  blown  away  our  weak  lines  like  chaff.  The  audacity  of  our 
attack  had  misled  Jackson  into  the  belief  that  he  had  met  the  entire 
army,  and  to  that  mistake  we  owed  the  privilege  of  living  "  to  fight 
another  day." 

The  "  wee  sma'  hours"  lengthened  out  wearily,  and  at  last 
morning  dawned  to  find  us  far  on  our  way.  It  had  rained  in  the 
night  just  enough  to  clog  the  road  and  spoil  our  footing,  and  when 
the  sun  got  up  and  beat  down  hotly  upon  us,  the  vapors  oppressed 
our  laboring  lungs  to  suffocation.  I  shall  never  forget  the  haggard, 
almost  hopeless  faces  that  met  my  eye  as  I  looked  around  among 
my  comrades  when  daylight  came.  Even  one  night  works  rapid 
changes  when  men  get  near  the  end  of  what  nature  can  bear.  Some 
were  missing,  and  the  huddled  up  figures  of  desperately  exhausted 
men  who  looked  with  listless  eyes  upon  the  passing  line,  suggested 
their  whereabouts.  Knapsacks,  clothing,  blankets  and  shelter  tents, 
and  even  extra  cartridges,  were  thrown  aside  and  littered  the  road. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  251 

Ambulances  crowded  with  pale  and  bloody  men  hurried  past. 
Now  we  would  pass  a  broken  one,  its  inmates  patiently  waiting  to 
be  helped  upon  the  horses,  or  resigning-  themselves  to  be  left 
behind  at  the  farms ;  again  it  was  a  new  made  grave  perhaps,  with 
a  stained  stretcher  lying  beside  it ;  and  all  these  scenes  mingle  in 
the  memory  of  that  morning's  march,  more  like  the  remains  of  some 
delirious  dream  than  the  ineffaceable  impression  of  actual 
occurrences. 

At  ten  we  reached  the  Junction,  halted  in  an  open  field  to  the 
left  of  the  railroad,  near  the  old  rebel  earthworks,  and  spreading 
our  remaining  shelter  tents  upon  the  stacks,  lay  down  in  the  mud  to 
rest  our  exhausted  frames.  Most  of  the  supply  trains  had  been 
destroyed,  but  by  dint  of  exertion  our  General  succeeded  in  secur 
ing  some  hard  bread  and  coffee,  and  the  opportune  arrival  of  a 
drove  of  cattle  supplied  fresh  meat,  and  soon  our  hungry  fellows 
were  gladdened  by  the  issue  of  a  plentiful  ration.  We  were  obliged 
to  scoop  up  the  yellow,  muddy  water  from  the  shallow  trenches  of 
the  old  potato  field  in  which  we  lay,  and  the  result  was  that  when 
boiled,  our  coffee  bore  an  unusual  milky  appearance,  which  we  were 
fain  to  make  believe  was  a  great  improvement. 

I  think  I  never  tasted  coffee  so  good,  and  surely  such  beef  as 
that  we  made  pretence  of  cooking  over  our  little  fires,  and  such 
superlatively  palatable  hard-tack,  we  thought  we  had  rarely  seen. 
Luxuries  they  were,  in  good  faith,  to  us,  and  we  appreciated  them 
fully;  but  the  satisfying  of  one  demand  of  nature  only  increased  the 
importunity  of  the  other,  and  many  were  soundly  sleeping  again 
almost  immediately. 

It  was  near  noon  when  a  succession  of  hearty  cheers  roused  us, 
to  wonder  what  could  call  such  enthusiastic  demonstrations  from 
our  dejected  troops.  A  straggling  line  of  mingled  artillery  trains 
and  infantry  columns,  marching  along  the  railroad  in  the  direction 
of  Gainesville,  was  apparently  the  recipient  of  this  welcome,  and 
soon  the  cry  of  McClellaris  troops  !  informed  us  of  the  reason. 

The  words  were  like  an  incantation.  Weariness  was  forgotten, 
and  all  rushed  to  the  railroad  to  welcome  the  men  for  whose  safety 
we  had  undergone  the  fatigues  and  dangers  of  the  last  twenty  days, 
and  whom  we  now  greeted  as  drowning  men  greet  the  life  boat. 
For  no  one  doubted  that  our  old  comrades  were  marching  en  masse 
to  our  aid,  and  that  in  the  union  of  our  long  disunited  -forces  we 
should  find  victory. 

There  they  came,  the  men  of  the  Chickahominy,  the  skeletons 


252  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

of  the  fine  regiments  who  had  left  us  in  March,  bearing  in  their 
thinned  ranks  and  war  beaten  aspect,  the  handful  of  tatters  that 
remained  to  the  never  relinquished  staffs  of  their  colors,  and  their 
gaunt  and  scarred  faces,  the  unerring  record  of  their  bravery  and 
their  sufferings.  All  we  could  learn  was  that  this  was  the  corps  of 
Fitz  John  Porter,  and  whether  the  balance  of  the  Peninsular  army 
was  at  hand  they  could  not  tell  us. 

Capt.  Noyes,  whose  interesting  book  I  have  already  quoted, 
says,  "  The  reason,  I  presume,  why  the  sight  of  these  reinforcements 
made  so  strong  an  impression,  was  this :  that  the  frequent  excite 
ments  and  want  of  sleep  had  to  some  extent  demoralized  our  troops, 
officers  and  men.  A  man,  hazy  from  fasting  and  sleeplessness, 
loses  self  reliance,  does  not  stand  so  firmly  upon  his  feet,  becomes 
dejected  and  indifferent,  offering  a  service  perfunctory  rather  than 
whole  souled  and  enthusiastic.  I  know  that  personally  I  felt  almost 
exhausted,  for  the  bodily  machine  was  pretty  well  runtiown.  I  am 
convinced  that  there  was  not  half  the  fighting  value  in  our  brigade 
as  if  one  day's  rest  and  one  night's  sleep  had  been  permitted  us 
after  the  late  fatigue." 

What  the  brave  captain  says  of  his  brigade  and  himself,  applied 
to  all  the  others.  At  home,  and  not  a  man  of  us  but  would  have 
been  considered  a  fitter  subject  for  a  sick  bed  and  attentive  nursing 
by  his  anxious  friends,  than  we  now  were  for  the  field  and  its  trying 
scenes.  Yet  our  time  had  come  again,  and  it  was  with  some  hope 
fulness  that  we  again  fell  in  and  lifted  our  muskets  with  aching  arms. 
And  here  I  may  as  well  give  the  remainder  of  the  paragraph  quoted 
above. 

"  Imagine  our  disappointment  when,  as  we  were  finishing  our 
coffee,  orders  came  for  the  division  to  move  forward  to  meet  the 
enemy.  The  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  had  already  commenced, 
and  every  man  was  needed.  Our  men  had  not  had  time  enough  to 
cook  and  kill  their  fresh  meat,  and  so  it  had  to  be  abandoned.  I 
confess  that  I  pitied  the  men  as  they  relunctantly  packed  and 
slung  their  knapsacks.  I  pitied  my  tired  mare  as  the  orderly 
brought  her  up.  I  pitied  my  tired  body  as  I  slung  myself  into  my 
saddle.  All  the  usual  excitement  naturally  attendant  upon  a  march 
to  an  expected-  battle  field  was  merged  and  lost  in  mental  and 
bodily  prostration." 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  253 


CHAPTER  XIV 


Commencement  of  the  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  Aug.  29. — March  from  Manassas  Junction  to  the 
Dogan  House. — Fighting  in  dark. — "Friend  or  foe." — A  bivouac  among  the  dead. — "  The  red 
morning  "  of  the  soth. — Grim  array  of  battle. — The  tide  begins  its  flow. — Our  position. — "  Pre 
pare  to  charge." — "Twenty-First!  Forward !" — "The  gates  of  Hell." — The  tide  begins  to 
ebb. — Defeats  and  darkness  end  the  day. 


THE  flags  of  war  like  storm  birds  fly,  She  meets  with  smiles  our  bitter  grief, 
The  charging  trumpets  blow;  With  songs  our  groans  of  pain  ; 

Yet  rolls  no  thunder  in  the  sky,  She  mocks  with  tint  of  flower  and  leaf 
No  earthquake  strives  below.  The  war-field's  crimson  stain. 

And,  calm  and  patient,  nature  keeps  Still,  in  the  cannon's  pause,  we  hear 
Her  ancient  promise  well,  Her  sweet  thanksgiving  psalm ; 

Though  o'er  her  bloom  and  greenness  Too  near  the  good  for  doubt  or  fear, 

sweeps  She  shares  the  eternal  calm. 

The  battle's  breath  of  hell.  Whittier. 


THE  never  to  be  forgotten  "  Battle  Autumn  "  of  the  year  1862 
began,  we  all  know,  with  disaster  and  defeat  to  the  army  of 
the  Union ;  its  prolonged  struggle  was  a  fearful  sacrifice  to  precious 
lives,  and  as  the  tidings  of  each  passing  day  swept  northward,  a 
wail  of  sorrow  went  up  from  thousands  of  desolated  hearthstones, 
and  the  land  was  draped  in  funeral  weeds.  Yet  the  end  was 
glorious ;  who  will  forget  Antietam  and  the  merging  of  that  sorrow 
ful  wail  into  pseans  and  thanksgiving  songs,  when  at  last  the  days 
of  trial  were  over,  and  the  hand  of  Providence  smote  the  powers 
over  which  it  had  almost  seemed  extended  to  protect,  and  they  were 
weakening  before  us,  and  our  newly  heartened  hosts  hurled  them 
back  in  dismay  from  the  very  threshold  of  our  homes.  It  was  a 
glorious  victory,  and  future  generations  of  eyes  will  brighten  at  the 
tale,  long  after  all  those  that  saw  that  day  are  dust-dimmed  and 
forgotten. 

Yes  "  it  was  a  glorious  victory,"  and  though  the  results  seemed 
to  leave  us  hardly  where  we  commenced,  and  certainly  weaker  by 
thousands  than  when  our  ranks  were  marshalled  in  the  spring  of 
that  bloody  year,  yet  in  experience  and  the  confidence  of  ability  our 


254  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

handfuls  had  become  hosts,  the  boasts  of  our  enemy  had  been 
turned  against  him,  and  he  had  learned  to  respect  that  which  many 
a  well  fought  field  showed  him  he  had  undervalued — the  valor  of 
the  North.  For  the  source  of  those  disasters,  whether  we  are  to 
look  for  them  in  unforeseen  contingencies,  from  ill  advised  action, 
incapacity,  neglect  or  treasonable  plottings  among  those  entrusted 
with  the  most  sacred  confidence  of  an  imperilled  people;  whether 
the  narrow  issues  drawn  by  the  jealousies  and  bickerings  of  faction 
among  controlling  powers,  and  men  who  should  have  forgotten  self 
and  sacrificed  personal  feeling,  and,  if  necessary,  even  individual 
rights,  in  the  face  of  the  nation's  peril,  those  who  know  either  more 
or  less  than  I  must  judge  for  themselves.  I  shall  deal  in  none  but 
generally  accepted  facts  in  speaking  of  the  surface  developments 
of  those  days,  endeavoring  to  record  faithfully  the  incidents  of  our 
own  experience,  and  leave  future  research  and  that  unvailing  hand 
of  time  which  daily  brings  to  the  light  old  hidden  things,  to  mark 
and  reveal  truth  and  cover  up  the  false. 

In  the  last  chapter  I  have  related  how,  famished  and  worn,  we 
had  reached  Manassas  on  the  morning  of  August  29th,  after  weeks 
of  fatigue  and  suffering  endurance,  to  meet  our  comrades  of  the 
Peninsula  marching  to  our  relief.  The  joy  of  that  event  was  new 
life  to  our  jaded  troops,  and  but  for  that  I  doubt  if  the  march  to  the 
field  could  have  been  so  promptly  undertaken  by  our  much 
suffering  men. 

We  had  barely  swallowed  our  hastily  prepared  meal,  and  many 
were  still  searching  for  water,  when  the  dreaded  bugle  sounded  the 
note  of  preparation,  and  all  hastened  to  their  places  and  resumed 
the  harness  they  had  just  lain  aside.  General  Patrick  from  his 
saddle  shouted, — "Rapidly  my  men!  Rapidly!"  and  the  listless 
laggards  quickened  their  motion;  although  no  words  from  even  him 
could  brighten  the  despondent  faces  in  which  the  hard  actualities 
of  war  were  drawing  lines  of  premature  significance  ;  age  forestalled 
in  suffering  experience,  the  protest  of  nature  against  factitious 
demands  exhausted  too  soon  the  reserve  of  strength  she  had  pre 
pared  to  fortify  the  westward  slope  of  life. 

The  brigade  was  soon  in  line.  "  My  men  !  "  said  Patrick,  "  we 
return  to  the  battle  ground  of  last  night.  You  fight  in  good  com 
pany.  You  follow  the  regulars.  They're  my  old  companions  in 
arms.  You  Jig  hi  well.  I've  no  fault  to  find.1  Keep  well  closed  up, 
and  be  prompt  to  obey  orders.  Colonel  Rogers,  lead  off  by  the 
right  flank." 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  255 

I  now  turn  again  to  the  report  of  General  McDowell.  "  King's 
and  Rickett's  divisions  were  directed,  as  soon  as  they  could  be 
placed  on  the  road  from  Manassas  Junction  to  Gainesville,  which 
runs  nearly  west,  to  follow  in  the  rear  and  close  to  General  Porter's 
corps.  Both  these  divisions  had  been  on  foot  night  and  day,  for 
several  days  past,  had  marched  the  most  of  the  night  before,  and 
were  separated  from  their  baggage  and  subsistence.  They  moved 
forward,  however,  cheerfully.  The  column  coming  to  a  halt,  I  rode 
forward  and  found  General  Porter  at  the  head  of  his  corps,  on  a 
slight  eminence;  in  front  was  an  open  piece  of  ground,  and  beyond 
it  the  woods  skirting  the  Warrenton  road,  down  which,  as  we  could 
see  from  the  dust  above  the  trees,  the  enemy  was  moving  from 
Gainesville  upon  Groveton,  where  the  battle  was  now  going  on. 

"Just  before  reaching  General  Porter,  I  received  a  note  from 
General  Buford,  commanding  cavalry  brigade,  who  was  on  our  then 
left  and  front,  acquainting  me  with  the  then  strength  of  the  enemy, 
which  he  had  seen  as  they  passed  through  Gainesville,  then  moving 
down  the  road.  It  consisted  of  seventeen  regiments,  one  battery, 
and  five  hundred  cavalry.  As  this  was  an  inferior  force  to  General 
Porter's,  I  decided  for  him  to  throw  himself  at  once  upon  the 
enemy's  flank,  and  as  the  head  of  my  column  was  some  three  miles 
back,  near  the  Sudley  Springs  road,  I  would  move  it  directly  north 
on  that  road,  upon  the  field  where  the  battle  was  then  at  its  height." 

We  had  marched  perhaps  three  miles  when  we  were  met  by 
General  McDowell,  and  turned  back  to  take  the  Sudley  Springs 
road.  I  remember  that  as  we  were  skirting  a  grove  at  its  junction, 
we  passed  a  battalion  of  raw  troops,  and  a  new  arrival  of  "  bounty  " 
men,  who  were  marching  in  close  column  with  carefully  timed  step 
and  fixed  bayonets,  in  the  direction  of  Porter's  column.  They  were 
singing  lustly,  and  apparently  full  of  unfledged  enthusiasm ;  and  the 
broad  amusement  with  which  our  bronzed  veterans  regarded  these 
callow  candidates  for  the  "  bone  yard,"  was  tempted  with  a  sort  of 
half  pity  for  what  they  had  before  them. 

Northward,  along  the  outer  rim  of  the  battle  field,  sometimes 
in  the  road,  then  through  groves  and  meadows,  and  anon  across 
some  scorching,  sandy  plain,  our  column  worked  its  devious  way. 
The  afternoon  was  terribly  hot,  and  no  fresh  water  was  to  be  had, 
as  we  passed  no  wells,  and  the  few  streams  seemed  to  be  dried  up. 
The  roar  of  batteries  hotly  engaged,  the  continuous  din  of  musketry, 
filled  the  air ;  and  now  and  then  when  we  raised  our  sweat-blinded  eyes 
from  the  road  we  saw  through  some  valley  or  opening  in  the  woods,  or 


256  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

on  the  distant  hillsides,  a  rolling'  vail  of  dim  vapors  ever  newly 
woven  where  sudded  puffs  and  dashes  of  white  smoke  broke  along 
the  earth,  and  filmed  up  against  forest,  and  hill,  and  sky.  Parked 
ammunition  wagons  snuggled  into  the  near  shelter  of  the  hills, 
ambulances  bounced  recklessly  toward  and  moved  slowly  from  the 
front,  and  the  red  hospital  flag  waved  from  the  scattering  farm 
houses  in  sight. 

Heintzleman's  corps,  with  the  divisions  of  Hooker  and  Kearney 
on  the  right  of  the  line,  west  of  the  Sudley  road,  Sigel  next,  his 
right  extending  a  short  distance  south  of  the  Warrenton  turnpike, 
Schenck's  division  on  the  high  ground  to  the  left  of  that  road,  and 
Reynolds'  division  on  the  extreme  left,  were  already  hotly  engaged. 
The  latter  division  had  assailed  the  heights  above  Groveton  on  the 
right  of  the  Warrenton  turnpike,  Cooper's  battery,  supported  by 
Meade's  brigade,  coming  gallantly  into  action  on  the  same  ridge  on 
which  the  enemy's  right  was  posted ;  but  by  some  movement  of 
Sigel's  corps,  Reynolds'  right  was  left  unsupported  and  he  was 
obliged,  the  enemy's  whole  fire  being  centered  upon  it,  to  fall  back. 
Afterward,  General  Pope,  arriving  on  the  right  of  the  line  from 

Centreville    renewed  the   attack,  and   drove  the   enemv  back  some 

•>  j 

distance,  and  again  Reynolds  moved  upon  his  right  and  rear,  and 
again  the  havoc  dealing  fire  of  the  enemy's  strongly  posted  bat 
teries-  and  lines  of  infantry  drove  him  back. 

"  Immediately  on  my  arrival  with  King's  division,"  says  Gen 
eral  McDowell,  "  I  directed  it  to  move  forward  and  take  position 
on  the  left  of  Reynolds,  then  still  engaged  on  the  left  of  Sigel's 
corps,  and  some  of  the  brigades  went  forward  to  do  so,  when  I 
received  your  instruction  ( Pope's)  to  order  the  division  over  to  the 
north  of  the  turnpike,  to  support  the  line  held  by  Reno,  which  had 
been  hotly  engaged  all  day,  and  the  division  was  recalled,  and 
brought  back  to  the  Sudley  Springs  road,  for  this  purpose." 

Our  own  brigade  was  already  nearly  approaching  Reynolds 
from  the  rear  when  this  order  recalled  us.  As  we  reached  the  road 
and  halted  until  the  column  should  close  up,  General  McDowell 
again  rode  up  from  the  left.  He  was  in  quite  a  passion  from  his 
own  personal  endeavors  to  drive  up  a  lot  of  stragglers  desperate 
and  defiant  with  their  sufferings,  and  we  were  hurried  forward  with 
out  delay.  We  had  yet  to  traverse  an  arid  plain  which  seemed 
interminable,  and  without  a  human  habitation  in  sight,  no  fences  or 
signs  of  cultivation,  only  a  few  stunted,  dried  down  shrubs  apologiz 
ing  for  the  wasted  forests  that  once  stood  upon  the  exhausted  soil. 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT.  257 

Half  way  across  this,  and  the  torments  of  thirst  were  becoming 
unbearable,  when  a  low  belt  of  willows  in  the  distance  gave  promise 
of  water.  A  few  from  each  company  obtained  permission  to  run  on 
in  advance  and  fill  a  few  canteens  before  the  column  should  come 
up.  Our  brigade  was  separated  from  the  division  and  moving 
under  special  orders  across  the  field,  and  as  we  hurried  on  others 
joined  until  the  squad  grew  to  quite  a  detachment,  every  one  trying 
to  be  the  first  in  the  race.  At  last  we  reached  the  hollow  and 
dashed  in.  There,  around  the  low  limits  of  a  sunken  spring  whose 
only  outlet  seemed  to  be  the  thirsty  soil,  sat  a  group  of  stragglers  ; 
stripped  to  the  knees  and  bathing  their  feet  in  the  only  water  to  be 
lound  for  miles  around.  With  a  thirsty  screech  we  charged  them,  and 
catching  up  their  traps  they  skulked  away;  while,  too  eager  to 
attempt  the  chastisement  they  deserved,  down  upon  our  faces  we 
went,  plunging  like  thirsty  horses  our  very  nostrils  and  eyes  into 
the  cool  water,  breathing  through  our  ears  if  we  breathed  at  all, 
until  we  could  hold  no  more.  Then  we  began  to  remember  our 
equally  thirsty  comrades,  and  hastily  to  fill  our  canteens,  and  when 
the  head  of  the  column  came  up  and  I  fell  into  my  place,  a  dense 
crowd  was  pressing  into  the  green  spot. 

It  was  near  dusk  when  we  reached  the  Warrenton  turnpike, 
and,  alter  a  short  halt,  while  plentiful  water  was  dipped  up  from  a 
branch  of  the  Bull  Run,  fouled  as  it  was  by  the  horses  of  cavalry 
and  artillery,  we  moved  up  the  pike. 

General  Pope  :;:  had,  at  half-past  four,  sent  peremptory  orders 
to  Fitz  John  Porter  "  to  push  forward  at  once  into  action  on  the 
enemy's  right,  and,  if  possible,  to  turn  his  rear," — stating  to  him 
generally  the  condition  of  things  on  the  field  in  front, — and,  at 
about  half-past  five,  when  in  compliance  with  this  order,  he  should 
have  been  coming  into  action,  Heintzleman  and  Reno  were  directed 
to  assault  the  enemy's  left.  The  attack  was  made  with  great  gal 
lantry,  and  the  enemy's  left  doubled  back  upon  his  centre,  our 
forces,  after  a  sharp  engagement  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  occupying 
the  field,  with  the  dead  and  wounded  in  their  hands. 

It  was  at  this  moment  that  our  division  arrived  at  the  scene  ot 
action,  and  were  pushed  immediately  to  the  front,  along  the  turn 
pike,  with  orders  to  fall  upon  the  enemy  then  in  full  retreat  in  that 
direction,  from  Sudley  Springs. 

Here,  then,  was  the  turning  point  of  the  day,  it  might  be  of  the 

;;:5ee  Pope's  Report,  page  21. 


258  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

campaign ;  a  stricken,  disheartened  and  flying  foe  before  us, — and 
how  our  pulses  bounded  and  our  hearts  rose,  as  hoping  to  turn  the 
retreat  into  a  rout  we  hurried  on, — cheers  rising  from  the  massed 
columns  resting  as  we  pass  the  positions  they  have  won  so  well,  all 
fatigue  forgotten  in  the  excitement,  and  our  inspirited  men  moving 
swiftly  on  to  complete  the  work,  never  doubting  but  that  the  right 
is  also  beaten  and  Porter's  force  victoriously  pressing  on.  As  our 
column  crests  the  hill  at  the  Dogan  House,  *  the  advance  has 
already  engaged  the  enemy,  but  that  rapid  and  heavy  firing  can 
never  come  from  a  flying  foe.  And  now  Bayard's  cavalry  move  up 
on  our  right,  and  as  the  squadrons  gallop  into  line  and  move  on 
prepared  to  charge,  we  see  in  the  now  gathering  darkness  a  sheet 
of  lurid  flame  leap  from  the  black  edge  of  the  woods  upon  our  left, 
sudden  shouts,  the  rattle  of  hoofs  and  the  crack  of  quick  sharp 
volleys  commingled  with  the  ringing  of  steel  and  yells  of  maddened 
and  wounded  men,  and  then  we  move  suddenly  from  the  pike  to 
the  right,  into  the  fields  below  the  house,  and  all  is  lost  to  us  but 
the  din.  We  in  the  ranks  have  quite  enough  to  do  without  watch 
ing  now  for  the  shifting  scenery  and  new  phases  of  this  grand 
spectacular  night  tragedy ;  we  must  leave  that  to  the  staff  officers, 
who  will  soon  perhaps  see  us  approaching  from  the  side  scenes  to 
take  our  own  part  in  the  play. 

While  there  is  still  the  faintest  glow  in  the  west,  we  reach  a 
high  corn  field  some  distance  to  the  right  of  the  pike.  In  front  of  a 
hill,  at  its  foot  a  deep  wide  trench;  the  brigade  is  formed  in  line 
by  columns  in  division  doubled  on  the  centre,  the  Twenty-First 
upon  the  right,  in  the  corn  field,  and  the  balance  extending  leftward 
toward  the  road,  or  "pike."  The  word  is  given  to  advance;  it  is 
now  pitchy  dark,  and  we  grope  forward,  keeping  our  lines  carefully 
dressed;  there  is  a  slight  break  as  we  scramble  through  the, ditch; 
order  is  renewed,  and  then  we  move  up  the  grassy  hill  side.  The 
top  seemed  to  be  evenly  rounded,  and  when  we  deployed  into  line, 
and  lay  down  to  wait  for  the  enemy's  advance,  we  brought  the 
summit  dimly  between  us  and  the  sky,  and  found  that  there  was 
only,  and  immediately  in  our  front,  a  rise  of  about  a  foot  between 
us  and  its  highest  part. 

Captain  Layton  now  took  the  lead  in  deploying  a  line  of  skirm 
ishers  out  upon  our  right,  into  the  corn  fields,  to  feel  for  the  enemy. 
It  was  ticklish  work,  there  in  the  solemn  darkness  groping  with  out- 


#  The  stone  house  upon  the  hill,  just  above  where  Young's  branch  crosses  the  turnpike. 


TWENTY-FIRST      REGIMENT.  259 

stretched  hands  to  find  a  foe.  General  Patrick  and  our  Colonel 
stood  in  the  centre,  and  our  orders  were  to  reserve  our  fire  until 
they  came  between  us  and  the  sky.  So  we  hugged  the  ground, 
each  man  glancing  along  his  piece  and  feeling  the  accuracy  of  its 
level,  or  trying  to  catch  the  gleam  of  the  polished  barrel  by  which 
to  aim.  Directly  in  front  was  a  dark  object  which  I  at  first  took 
for  a  rock,  until  a  slight  movement  and  a  deep  groan  showed  it  to 
be  a  horse,  probably  wounded  during  the  day's  fight,  and  now 
near  his  end. 

A  sound  of  feet  warns  of  some  living  thing  coming  from  a 
direction  from  which  none  but  foes  can  come,  and  each  one  holds 
his  breath  and  steadies  his  hand,  and  glances  eagerly  over  his  ready 
musket.  Something  stirs  obscurely  against  the  horizon,  and  the 
Colonel's  cautious  whisper  restrains  the  too  ready.  It  is  one  or  a 
thousand;  it  comes  nearer  and  we  see  that  he  is  as  yet  but  one; 
feeling  his  way  anxiously,  nearer,  within  a  few  feet,  his  musket  over 
his  shoulder,  and  now  he  pauses  and  again  takes  a  hesitating 
step  or  two.  "  What  regiment  be  you  boys,"  and  our  Colonel 
who  has  advanced  to  the  line  answers  by  a  whispered  invitation  to 
"step  in  here,  and  be  quiet,"  and  as  he  comes  in  reach,  two  of  the 
boys  stretch  up  and  "grab"  him;  he  stoops  with  shaking  knees, 
drops  his  piece  and  pleads  for  gentle  usage. 

And  while  the  Colonel  examines  him,  to  find  that  the  poor 
fellow  is  a  stray  grayback  looking  for  his  regiment,  which  he  thinks 
ought  to  be  here,  we  turn  our  regards  again  to  the  front.  Almost 
simultaneous  with  the  return  of  Major  Thomas,  to  report  an 
approach,  we  hear  them ;  first  a  subdued  murmur,  then  the  clanking 
of  arms,  and  the  "scuffing"  tread  of  feet  in  the  dry  grass,  and  then 
the  words  of  command  and  exhortation.  Again  we  clutch  the  piece 
and  hug  the  ground  and  watch  against  the  sky  ;  and  then  we  cjearly 
hear  the  "halt"  and  "close  up,"  echoed  along  their  line,  and  the 
subdued  voices  of  angry  officers  urge  up  the  laggards  and  the 
grumblers.  Every  word  is  now  distinctly  audible,  but  nothing  can 
we  see ;  their  line  is  evidently  halted  to  restore  order,  and  in  a 
moment  they  will  advance  again.  Suddenly — "crash!"  and  a 
stream  of  flame  bursts  from  our  left  and  dashes  in  repetition  along 
the  line  toward  us,  and  then  comes  the  reply  ;  and  now  the  bullets 
begin  to  hum  in  myriads  just  above  our  heads ;  there  is  the  steady 
rattle  and  roll  of  musketry  hotly  engaged,  and  the  sudden  blinding 
flashes  which  reveal  nothing  and  leave  the  night  blacker ;  cries  go 
up  sharply  in  the  din,  orders  or  agonies,  who  stops  to  know?  And 


260  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

now  there  is  a  cheer,  they  have  fallen  back,  and  before  we  hardly  take 
in  the  idea,  word  comes  in  from  the  right  that  we  are  being-  flanked. 

Back  with  anxious  haste,  across  the  ditch,  and  into  the  corn  field 
again,  and  then  we  hear  the  balance  of  the  brigade  getting  back 
upon  the  hill  at  the  Dogan  House ;  we  move  in  column  toward  the 
left  and  the  order  is  given,  "  On  the  left,  by  file,  into  line  /"  which 
will  bring  us  fronting  the  line  of  expected  attack.  As  we  file  off,  a 
regiment  is  lying  in  double  column  so  near  that  I  might  stoop  and 
touch  its  nearest  men,  as  I  turn.  The  movement  is  but  half  accom 
plished,  and  we  are  in  the  worst  possible  position  for  an  attack, 
when  from  our  rear  where  lie  those  men  comes  a  sudden  volley ;  too 
high,  for  the  balls  fly  overhead,  and  I  hear  a  cry  of  agony  passing 
me  with  a  rush  of  a  flying  horse,  shouts  of  "  who  are  you  firing  at," 
and  a  rattling  return  from  the  hill  behind  us.  Each  man  pauses 
paralyzed  by  this  sudden  and  unexplained  attack,  and  then  the 
voice  of  General  Patrick  thunders  out  a  few  quick  commands,  each 
company  forms  separately  and  hurries  up  the  hill,  between  the 
guns  of  a  battery,  in  front  of  the  Dogan  House,  which  has  been 
narrowly  restrained  from  pouring  a  charge  of  grape  into  our  faces, 
mistaking  us  for  rebels,  and  we  lie  down  panting  and  bewildered. 

It  was  soon  evident  that  a  force  of  the  enemy  had  stumbled 
there  in  our  rear  in  the  dark,  and  waiting  wisely  until  chance  favored 
their  escape,  had  fired  a  parting  volley  over  our  heads  and  into 
another  of  our  own  regiments,  provoking  from  them  a  voile)-  in 
return.  The  left  of  the  brigade  had  fallen  back  upon  discovering 
that  a  strong  flanking  force  was  moving  down  the  pike,  and  in  the 
darkness  a  terrible  melee  ensued  in  the  ditch,  where  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  distinguish  friend  from  foe.  Our  loss  in  killed  and 
missing  was  small ;  many  were  wounded,  among  them  Lieutenant 
Bouvier  of  Patrick's  staff,  and  some  were  known  to  be  prisoners. 
We  had  also  captured  a  number  of  the  enemy. 

Our  division  had  been  repulsed.  Instead  of  a  flying  foe  they  had 
encountered  the  fresh  forces  of  Longstreet,  who  had  driven  Ricketts 
back  at  the  Gap  on  the  evening  of  the  28th,  and  had  now  hastened  to 
the  aid  of  Jackson.  Porter  might  have  completed,  upon  the  enemy's 
right,  the  work  so  nobly  commenced  upon  ours,  before  this  help 
arrived ;  *  now  it  was  too  late,  and  the  rebel  centre  stood  firm, 
although  his  entire  left  was  forced  back  upon  it,  leaving  the  field 
where  Heintzleman  and  Reno  advanced,  in  our  hands,  with  the 
dead  and  wounded  of  the  enemy.  Our  losses  are  reported  at 

*  For  this  failure  Porter  was  cashiered.  At  this  time  (1886),  Congress  and  the  President  have, 
upon  a  last  review  of  the  case,  restored  him  to  the  army  and  retired  him. —  Committee  republishing 
these  Chronicles. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  26l 

between  six  and  eight  thousand  killed  and  wounded.  Generals 
Hooker  and  Kearney,  who  passed  over  the  entire  field  to  our  left 
on  the  morning  of  the  3Oth,  estimated  the  loss  of  the  enemy  as  being 
at  least  two  to  our  one. 

Upon  the  hill  among  the  guns  of  the  battery,  the  Dogan  House, 
where  Dr.  Peters  had  established  his  hospital  and  was  caring  for 
the  wounded,  just  in  our  rear,  we  lay  the  balance  of  the  night.  The 
pickets  of  the  enemy  were  hardly  more  than  a  stone's  throw  in  front, 
so  near  that  ours  could  hear  every  word  passed  among  them,  and 
now  and  then  a  shot  was  exchanged.  The  23d  did  the  picket  duty, 
and  so  tired  were  the  men  that  it  was  found  almost  impossible  to  keep 
them  awake,  in  the  very  reach  of  the  enemy.  All  night  the  wail  of  the 
rebel  wounded  was  heard  far  across  the  field,  and  to  those  who 
must  keep  the  weary  watch  the  hours  dragged  like  ages.  The 
fatigue  of  the  day  and  the  horrors  of  the  night  had  so  impressed 
the  minds  of  all,  that  sleep  hardly  sufficed  to  compose,  and  dreams 
of  bloodshed  and  horror  stirred  not  a  few  moiled  brains.  One  man, 
I  remember,  got  upon  his  feet  in  his  sleep,  discharged  his  musket 
into  the  air,  and  then  quietly  lay  down  again,  unconscious  of  what 
he  had  done. 

Morning  came,  and  we  stretched  our  stiffened  limbs  and  looked 
about  us.  Here  upon  the  hill  lay  some  of  the  dead  of  the  day 
before,  and  scattered  across  the  field  in  front  were  hundreds  more. 

The  sun  rose  in  all  its  glory  ;  many  among  us  were  never  to 
see  him  set  again ;  many  would  see  him  go  down  upon  a  lost  field, 
and  hundreds  were  there  who  then  would  be  couched  in  agony 
upon  it.  But  the  few  hours  to  come  were  as  unreadable  as  the 
sealed  book  of  fate,  and  "  August  3Oth  "  was  the  last  date  inscribed 
upon  the  life  book  of  many  a  hero  whose  hand  would  never  make 
another  entry. 

Moving  a  little  to  the  rear  of  the  house,  to  be  out  of  view  of 
the  enemy,  we  got  our  breakfast  and  prepared  for  the  day's  duties. 
Few,  of  us,  perhaps,  imagined  that  these  would  include  much  real 
fighting.  All  so  quiet  along  the  lines,  the  severe  treatment  and 
losses  of  the  enemy  the  day  before,  and  the  need  both  armies  had 
of  rest,  seemed  to  lessen  the  probability.  Our  own  division  especi 
ally,  after  its  hardships  of  the  last  few  days,  needed  a  breathing 
spell.  So,  early  in  the  day,  we  were  marched  off  about  a  mile  to 
the  right  and  rear  and  into  the  woods,  where  we  stacked  arms, 
relieving  ourselves  of  our  harness,  and  selected  the  best  resting 
place  among  the  trees.  On  our  way,  we  could  see  along  the 


262  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

valleys,  in  distant  hollows  and  upon  the  hillsides,  the  long-  lines  of 
infantry,  and  scattered  batteries,  arms  gleaming  in  burnished  ranks 
in  the  sun.  It  looked  much  as  though  business  was  again  the 
expected  order  of  the  day.  Hardly  had  we  got  comfortably  set 
tled  when  the  shell  began  to  come  with  their  peculiar  fluttering 
whiz,  and  bounce  into  the  earth  or  dash  against  the  trees  around  ; 
the  artillery  on  both  sides  had  commenced  shelling  the  woods,  and 
our  lair  soon  became  too  warm  for  comfort.  Orders  now  came  for 
us  to  move  and  take  position  on  the  right  of  Sigel,  and  our  Colonel 
and  General  Patrick  immediately  rode  away  in  search  of  his  posi 
tion.  When  they  returned  \ve  "  took  arms,"  and  moved  on  through 
the  woods,  emerging  at  last  in  their  rear  where  Sigel's  line  should 
have  been,  but  true  to  his  reputed  characteristics,  the  "  Flying 
Dutchman"  had  vanished,  not  a  sign  of  his  ubiquitous  column  was 
to  be  seen,  and  so  we  again  formed  in  division  and  lay  down.  The 
firing  was  gradually  increasing,  and  we  felt  a  presentment  that  we 
should  soon  be  called  for;  so  a  detail  was  allowed  to  go  to  a  ravine 
some  distance  back  to  fill  the  canteens,  and  the  remainder  busied 
themselves  in  cleaning  and  putting  the  arms  in  order ;  a  duty  the 
experienced  soldier  will  never  neglect.  For  some  time  each  man 
had  carried  a  hundred  rounds  of  cartridges,  forty  in  the  box,  and 
six  extra  packages  stowed  in  the  waist  of  his  blouse.  These  last 
wrere  now  unpacked  and  stuffed  into  the  pockets  ready  for  use,  and 
then  we  again  stretch  ourselves  upon  the  ground  to  wait  for  orders. 

Shortly  after  noon  a  general  movement  began  among  the 
massed  troops,  extending  as  far  as  we  could  see  to  our  left  and  rear, 
batteries  limbered  up  and  moved  with  infantry  columns  towards  the 
front,  and  then  came  orders  for  us  to  join  our  division,  which  was 
forming  upon  the  Warrenton  turnpike  about  a  mile  to  our  left. 

As  we  moved  down  the  Sudley  Springs  road,  toward  the  pike, 
and  neared  the  Dogan  House,  a  splendid  pageant  opened  to  view. 
All  through  the  vistas  and  along  its  slopes  were  massed  the  waiting 
hosts,  quietly  preparing  for  their  trial  hour,  standing  to  their  arms 
in  readiness  for  the  word  to  advance  ;  and  the  sight  thrilled  me  with 
something  of  the  olden  fire,  and  at  that  moment  not  a  doubt  dark 
ened  the  coming  hour.  The  artillery  prelude,  an  ominous  voluntary 
preparing  us  for  the  tragic  scene  upon  which  the  curtain  must  shortly 
rise,  had  already  begun,  and  the  shell  were  hurtling  through  the  air 
and  dropping  among  us  from  unseen  batteries,  as  we  filed  out  across 
the  pike  and  formed  in  a  corn  field  just  to  the  rear  of  the  Dogan 
House.  Our  left  rested  upon  Young's  branch  of  the  Bull  Run  just 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  263 

where  it  winds  across  the  pike  and  between  the  hills,  and  in  this  shel 
tered  spot  the  surgeons  were  already  busy  over  prostrate,  pale  and 
bloody  men,  doing  their  rough  but  kindly  offices.  While  a  last 
opportunity  offered,  many  of  us  collected  the  dry  corn  stalks,  built 
little  fires,  and  boiled  a  last  cup  of  coffee  ;  for  we  knew  we  should 
need  its  stimulus  before  night. 

Generals  and  staff  officers  galloped  among  the  lines  and  grouped 
themselves  here  and  there  upon  the  hill  tops  in  front ;  aids  rode 
madly  to  and  fro  ;  and,  strange  sight  for  such  an  hour,  a  beautiful 
woman  in  a  tightly  fitting  habit  of  gray,  with  a  single  attendant,  rode 
slowly  across  our  front,  seemingly  unmindful  of  the  warning  shell, 
and  almost  unwillingly  moving  toward  the  rear  ;  the  wife  of  one  of 
our  Generals  they  said,  and  probably  the  pang  of  a  late  parting  under 
the  cloud  of  impending  danger  was  stronger  than  her  woman  fears. 
And  then  began  a  shifting  and  moving  of  lines,  and  short,  quick 
words  of  command  were  passed,  our  General  rode  rapidly  up,  and 
at  our  Colonel's  call  the  line  straightened  up,  we  were  faced  by  the 
right,  and  shortly  took  our  way  up  the  road,  past  the  Dogan  House, 
and  down  to  a  point  some  distance  farther  than  we  went  the  night 
before.  Here  our  line  of  battle  was  being  formed.  Across  the  road 
and  to  the  right  and  left  they  were  moving,  closing  up  and  lying 
down  in  the  short  grass,  for  the  shell  were  now  plunging  thick  and 
madly  all  around.  As  our  column  turned  off  to  the  right,  we  saw 
here  the  Zouaves  of  Duryea,  conspicuous  among  a  host,  in  worn  and 
dirty  blue,  with  their  bright  red  caps  and  trowsers.  Away  to  the 
right,  just  in  rear  of  an  old  by-road,  and  to  the  distant  wood,  the 
lines  were  forming  ;  this  was  the  first,  and  others  were  closing  in  our 
rear  to  support  the  onset. 

We  reach  the  woods,  and  pass  to  their  rear.  Over  this  ground 
the  troops  of  Schurz,  Schenck,  and  Milroy  had  fought  the  day  before, 
and  we  stepped  over  bodies  in  blue  and  in  gray,  blackening  together 
in  the  sun.  It  was  a  ghastly  approach  to  the  battle  hour,  a  field  then 
spread  with  the  revolting  tokens  of  carnage,  whereof  the  mad  flush 
of  danger  dared  had  passed,  and  from  over  which  the  sulphurous, 
blinding,  frenzying  battle  cloud  had  floated  away,  leaving  it  bare  in 
all  its  horrors.  But  we  have  no  time  to  feel  ;  in  eager  haste  we  are 
hurried  on,  and  our  line  is  formed  and  shifted,  and  moved  again, 
while  in  front  the  dread  stillness  and  silence  of  the  woods  is  broken 
only  by  rare  musket  discharges,  and  we  can  dimly  see  our  skirmish 
ers  gliding  from  tree  to  tree,  and  crawling  from  cover  to  cover,  while 
scattering  balls  whistle  past  them  and  over  our  heads. 


264  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Our  line  is  too  far  to  the  right,  and  we  march  back  some  distance, 
then  up  to  the  edge  of  the  wood  and  halt.  Our  line  is  already  in 
advance.  It  is  the  brigade  of  General  Hatch,  who  to-day  is  in  com 
mand  of  the  division.  Patrick's  brigade  forms  the  second  line  ;  the 
Twenty-First  has  the  right,  then  comes  the  2oth  N.  Y.,  their  front  partly 
covered  by  the  wood  ;  to  the  left  still  farther,  the  23d  and  35th  N.  Y. 

And  now  comes  the  word  to  advance,  and  our  line  has  to  break 
among  the  trees.  Here  lie  the  dead  in  groups,  telling  of  bloody 
work  at  this  point  yesterday, — work  with  the  bayonet.  Just  within 
the  edge  I  must  step  over  a  spot  whose  concentrate  horrors  might 
haunt  an  age  of  dreams,  and  which  I  shudder  to  recollect,  and  must 
not  describe.  Half  through  this  belt  of  wood,  and  we  come  upon  a 
broken  line,  not  of  our  division,  and  the  Colonel  tries  to  drive  them 
up.  An  officer  explains  why  they  are  there,  and  we  pass  on.  Close 
up  to  the  farther  edge  of  the  wood  and  we  halt,  the  line  is  dressed, 
and  we  wait.  And  now  the  firing  on  our  right  grows  more  rapid, 
and  still  faster,  and  now  it  approaches  ;  we  hear  nothing  else,  we  can 
only  see  through  the  trees  in  frontTthe  scattering  tops  of  others  tinged 
with  the  battle  mist,  and  as  yet  no  tiding  or  token  from  our  first  line. 
Anxious  moments  pass  ;  stray  balls  chip  the  trees  and  whiz  among 
us,  coming  hotter  and  faster  each  moment,  and  not  a  grayback  in 
sight.  A  sudden  movement  in  the  line,  a  sharp  cry  of  pain,  and  one 
of  "  B's"  men  is  helped  to  the  rear,  the  first  man  hurt.*  And  now 
we  are  ordered  to  lie  down.  Higher  grows  the  turmoil,  and  thicker 
and  louder  come  the  angry  messengers.  Another  of  "B's"  men 
straightens  out  quietly  and  the  death  mark  is  in  his  face.  No  time 
for  words,  only  a  mad  swelling  of  the  heart  and  a  throb  of  the  brain, 
and  a  deadly  thirst  for  answering  blood  dries  up  all  other  feeling  as 
poor  Johnnie  Hatch  is  lifted  back.  Here  it  comes !  Something- 
seems  to  have  loosened  the  slow  wheels  of  chariots,  and  a  roaring 
clin  like  the  bursting  of  pent  up  waters  rushes  along  our  front.  Gen 
eral  Hatch  gallops  up  in  hot  haste,  and  screams  out  an  order,  and 
behind  him  a  storm  seems  roaring  down.  And  then,  clear  as  a  bugle 
above  the  din,  our  Colonel's  voice  sings  out: 

"  Rise  up  Twenty-First !  Fix  Bayonets!  Fonvard  !  Double 
quick!  MARCH!" 

Oh !  the  wild  thrill  of  that  moment,  will  ages  obliterate  its  recol 
lection?  A  look  into  my  comrade's  eyes  as  the  bayonets  clatter  and 
clash  into  fixedness,  another  right  and  left  as  at  the  word  our  line 


*John  A  Hayward,  when  convalescent  was  detailed  at  Halleck's  Headquarters  as  Clerk. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  265 

sways  forward,  officers  leaping  to  the  front  and  waving  on  with  flash 
ing  swords,  then  steadily  into  the  front  with  eager  gaze.  At  the  edge 
of  the  wood  is  a  road,  washed  deep  and  banked  high  on  the  other 
side.  With  a  cheer  we  come  out  from  among  the  trees,  and  an 
answering  hell-blast  sweeps  with  sudden  fury  in  our  faces.  The  storm 
seems  in  one  flash  to  burst  upon  us,  the  air  is  instinct  with  sudden 
life,  and  volley  upon  volley  peals  in  our  faces.  For  one  awful  moment 
the  line  struggles  in  the  road,  screams  of  agony  and  hoarse  commands 
mingle,  and  all  around  men  are  lying  down  to  die.  The  road  is  lull 
of  the  first  line  men,  crowded  along  the  fence  and  firing  through  the 
lower  rails.  Over  them,  over  the  fence,  and  on. 

Yes,  on!  "Into  the  jaws  of  death,  into  the  mouth  of  hell." 
Every  man  leans  forward  as  though  breasting  a  heavy  wind.  From 
right,  left  and  front,  we  feel  the  pounding  breath  of  batteries,  grape 
and  cannister  sweep  broad  gaps  in  our  little  line,  and  it  melts  like  the 
first  snow  of  winter  before  this  awful  wind  of  bullets.  Right  and  left 
see  them  go  down  ;  brothers  of  many  camp  fires,  down  with  glazed 
eyes  and  calm  faces,  and  still,  on. 

A  hundred  yards  from  the  fence  is  their  first  line,  and  behind, 
the  hill  sides  swarm  with  gray,  dimly  seen  through  puffing  lines  of 
smoke  that  drift  in  our  faces.  They  are  in  thousands,  we  are  one 
line.  Never  mind,  forward !  Ten  steps  from  the  fence,  and  Tom 
Bishop  goes  clown  with  the  colors.  Our  company  is  next  them  and 
there  is  a  rush.  Hurrah,  Dan  Sheldon  has  got  them  and  his  noble 
face  is  transfigured  as  he  flings  out  the  folds  high  and  free,  and  strides 
on.  Brave  Dan  ;  a  ball  strikes  that  forehead  and  he  falls  upon  the 
dear  old  flag.  And  now  two  stages  of  ten  steps  each  have  cost  each 
a  man.  Yet  there  are  plenty  more.  Henry  Spicer  of  "F"  is  next 
upon  the  glorious  list,  and  he  too  is  born  to  immortality.  Half  down 
the  slope,  and  the  left  is  wheeling  round  to  bring  our  line  fronting 
upon  an  old  railroad  embankment  that  literally  swarms  with  the 
enemy.  Our  right  has  reached  it  and  is  hand  to  hand  in  the  death 
struggle.  The  centre  nears  it  swiftly,  I  have  almost  reached  the 
ditch,  when  a  stunning  blow  seems  to  tear  me  in  two  and  I  find 
myself  doubled  up  in  its  dry  bed  ;  not  dry,  it  was  so  an  hour  ago, 
now  it  is  wet  with  blood. 

How  long  the  battle  rages  here  I  cannot  say.  Like  a  dream  in 
which  minutes  are  ages,  around  me  I  dimly  see  the  shifting  changes 
of  the  fight.  The  ditch  is  deep  with  the  wounded  and  dead,  the 
living  seek  its  shelter  from  which  to  pick  off  the  swarming  foe.  Our 
Colonel,  cool  as  on  parade,  walks  along  the  edge  encouraging  his 


266  CHRONICLES     OF"     THE 

men,  who  fight  with  the  energy  of  desperation.  All  around  they  are 
dropping,  quietly,  or  crawling  to  the  ditch,  or  toward  the  rear  ;  the 
thick  smoke  envelopes  all,  the  ceaseless  roar  of  batteries  and  musketry, 
the  wail  of  the  leaden  tempest,  the  shriek  and  crash  of  shell  and 
shrapnel,  the  yells  of  excited  officers  and  blood  maddened  men, 
mingle  wierdly  in  my  befogged  brain,  as  I  lie  here  between  the  dying 
and  the  dead. 

And  now  they  have  turned  our  right  ;  where  are  the  troops  that 
should  make  the  line  continuous  ?  it  is  evident  they  are  not  there.  A 
withering  blast  sweeps  the  ditch,  and  hurtles  across  that  rearward 
slope.  Our  men  are  rallying,  "few  and  faint,  yet  fearless  still," 
where  the  old  flag,  torn  with  bullets  and  its  guardian  eagle  swept  away, 
still  flies  defiantly.  Spicer  fell  dead  upon  it  long  ago,  and  more  have 
fallen  with  it  since. 

And  now  comes  the  order,  "Fall  back!  Twenty- First  ! 
Steadily  !  ' '  and  the  tide  begins  to  ebb.  With  fixed  bayonets  the 
encroaching  rebels  force  back  our  weak  line.  The  lines  that  should 
have  supported  us  are  back  at  the  fence  by  the  woods,  firing  down 
past  and  over  us,  and  helping  to  keep  them  in  check.  As  I  crawled 
out  of  the  ditch  and  make  my  way  painfully  to  the  rear,  the  balls 
skip  across,  follow  and  meet  my  way,  and  shell  howl  and  burst  above. 
A  group  of  three  start  with  me,  two  supporting  one  ;  a  charge  of 
grape  flutters  along  and  they  all  go  down  together.  It  is  horrible  to 
hear  the  balls  strike  into  the  dead,  and  see  them  stir  with  sudden 
mockery  of  life.  And  behind,  our  boys  are  sullenly  falling  back,  still 
fewer.  I  reach  the  road,  and  already  it  is  nearly  deserted.  The 
Adjutant  of  the  i4th  Brooklyn  rides  frantically  up  and  down  with 
whirling  saber,  halting  and  trying  to  form  the  stragglers  of  his 
brigade.  Here  too  the  bullets  cross  the  way,  and  the  gray-backs 
swarm  in  the  road  just  above.  And  now  a  comrade  gives  me  his 
arm  ;  the  retreating  waves  are  close  behind,  we  must  push  hard  or 
we  are  stranded.  Out  of  the  woods,  through  the  lines  of  batteries, 
past  the  stone  house,  he  carries  me  and  I  am  shoved  into  the  last 
ambulance.  Ten  minutes  later  cavalry  and  artillery  come  down  in 
full  retreat,  and  our  train  starts.  I  rise  upon  my  elbow  ;  the  sun  is 
setting  beyond  the  field  in  gory  refulgence,  I  can  see  the  rebel 
artillery  taking  the  positions  we  have  just  left,  and  their  shell  are 
already  dropping  among  the  ambulances,  while  our  own  send  back 
responses  from  new  positions  on  the  hills  in  front. 

The  day  was  done  ;  darkness  closed  around,  and  then  came 
black  hours  of  alternate  misery  and  unconsciousness,  while  the 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT. 


267 


hearse-like  ambulance  bumped  and  reeled  over  the  rocky  hills. 
My  marching  days  were  over,  ended  with  those  of  thousands 
who  went  out  in  their  young  strength  and  came  back  shorn.  Here 
ends  my  own  part  in  the  story  of  those  days,  and  for  the  succeeding 
pages  I  must  draw  from  the  experience  of  my  more  fortunate 
comrades,  who  saw  the  campaign  through  to  its  glorious  end,  while  I 
passed  long  dreary  months  in  the  crowded  hospital. 


268  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


CHAPTER  XV. 


After  the  battle. — The  Fight  at  Chantilly. — "  My  Maryland." — March  to  South  Mountain.— Death 
of  Captain  Hayvvard. —  Battle  of  South  Mountain,  September  i4th,  1862.— A  Victory,  and  its 
cost. — The  Rebel  Rout. — Appearance  of  the  field. —  Pursuit  of  the  enemy. —  He  is  overtaken 
at  Antietam,  and  we  again  prepare  for  battle. 


PREVIOUS  to,  and  during  the  retreat  from  Culpepper,  our 
regiment  had  been  much  reduced  in  numbers,  by  sickness  and 
the  fatigues  of  the  march  ;  so  that  we  had  in  all  only  about  four 
hundred  men  on  the  morning  of  tl^e  3Oth  of  August.  Out  of  that 
number  seventy-eight  men  and  nine  officers  reached  Centreville  at 
one  o'clock  that  night.  On  leaving  the  field  Adjutant  Sternberg, 
who  had  distinguished  himself  by  his  coolness  and  bravery,  had 
rallied  seventy-five  men  and  officers  ;  more  had  joined  on  the  road, 
but  wounds  and  the  fatigues  of  the  day  compelled  many  to  fall  behind. 
Colonel  Rogers,  Major  Thomas,  Captains  Lee,  Canfield  and  Wheeler, 
Lieutenants  Efner,  Barney,  Myers  and  Mulligan,  were  all  more  or  less 
severely  wounded;  Lieutenant  Mulligan,  mortally.  Captain 
Washburne  and  Lieutenant  Whitney  were  killed.  The  number  of 
known  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  men, 
nearly  all  of  whom  were  left  upon  the  field,  and  some  sixteen  more 
were  still  unaccounted  for  and  reported  missing.  From  the  reports 
and  muster-out  rolls  I  make  the  following  list,  which  shows  a  loss  of 
fifty  men  killed  and  one  hundred  and  thirteen  wounded  and  sent  to 
hospital,  saying  nothing  of  those  who  were  able  to  stay  with  the 
regiment ;  and  the  number  of  those  absolutely  uninjured  was  fearfully 
small,  nearly  every  man  having  at  least  a  slight  memento  in  the  shape 
of  a  cut  or  contusion,  some  so  severe  as  to  necessitate  their  being 
afterward  sent  to  hospital. 

The  following  list  of  our  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  is  from  the 
muster-out  rolls,  and  the  report  of  Doctors  Miner  and  Eastman,  who 
came  immediately  after  the  battle,  from  Buffalo,  to  ascertain  the 
number  and  condition  of  our  wounded,  and  what  could  be  done 
for  them. 


TWENTY- FIRST     REGIMENT.  269 

Colonel  William  F.  Rogers,  received  a  spent  ball  in  the  left  groin,  but  continued 
ity  as  commander  of  the  brigade. 
Major  H.  G.  Thomas,  severely  wounded  in  both  thighs   and   left  groin ;    sent 


home. 

Adjutant  C.  W.  Sternberg,  left  leg  injured  by  spent  ball ;  on  duty. 

COMPANY  "A." — Private  Jasper  F.  Richardson,  killed  by  ball  in  right  lung; 
Sergeant  Francis  Myers,  bullet  in  right  thigh ;  Sergeant  Henry  Klein,  right  arm  and 
side,  severe;  Sergeant  Fred.  Sommers,  right  leg,  lay  on  the  field  seven  days, 
discharged ;  private  Christian  Henry,  thigh  ;  private  Jacob  Breitweiser,  jaw  ;  private 
John  W.  Doney,  both  thighs;  private  Thaddeus  M.  Fowler,  left  leg,  severe, 
discharged  ;  private  William  Mang,  right  leg. 

COMPANY  "  B." — Lieut.  Algar  M.  Wheeler,  thigh,  slight;  Lieut.  Jas.  J. 
McLeish,  slightly;  Color  Sergeant  Thomas  W.  Bishop,  right  breast;  Sergeant 
Joshua  G.  Towne,  leg,  severe;  Corporal  John  M.  Lutz,  shoulder,  severe, 
discharged;  Corporal  John  A.  Balcolm,  killed  by  ball  in  left  breast;  private  John  P. 
Hatch,  killed ;  private  Henry  M.  Hill,  killed  ;  private  William  Dole,  killed  ;  Corporal 
Jacob  F.  Shoenthal,  killed;  private  George  Krauskoff,  right  arm,  mortal;  private 
Charles  A.  Swartz,  left  arm,  mortal ;  private  Charles  M.  Andre,  face,  severe, 
discharged;  private  Edward  Van  Ornam^wounded  severely  and  discharged  ;  private 
Henry  Gross,  back ;  private  John  A.  Hayward,  leg,  severe;  private  Henry  Papey, 
right  shoulder ;  private  Frank  Stacy,  right  arm ;  taken  prisoner  and  paroled ;  private 
Louis  P.  Beyer,  both  legs;  private  Frank  Stephan,  head  ;  private  Elbridge  G.  Fenton, 
right  arm;  private  John  O'Donnell,  neck;  private  Benjamin  J.  Parker,  head;  private 
Newman  U.  Goodrich,  thigh;  slightly. 

COMPANY  "  C." — Captain  Jeremiah  P.  Washburne,  killed  and  left  on  the  field  ; 
private  William  R.  Jeudevine,  killed;  private  William  G.  Rice,  killed;  private  Charles 
B.  Stone,  killed ;  private  Albert  R.  Swartz,  killed  ;  private  Almond  B.  Darling,  breast, 
mortal;  private  Charles  R.  Peck,  lungs,  mortal;  private  Horace  M.  Rose,  head, 
mortal;  Lieutenant  George  Hurst,  right  hand,  finger  amputated;  Sergeant  Robert 
S.  Wilcox,  leg;  Sergeant  John  Hoy,  ankle;  private  Isaac  L.  Gary,  leg,  severe, 
discharged;  Corporal  Charles  H.  Gundlach,  discharged ;  private  Walter  J.  Gibson, 
foot,  severe,  discharged ;  private  Robert  Sutcliffe,  groin,  severe,  discharged ; 
Corporal  Edgar  A.  Langham,  right  shoulder,  severe;  private  Louis  Brandell,  left 
foot ;  private  Warren  B.  Gibbs,  hand ;  private  A.  Johnson,  nature  of  wound  unknown. 

COMPANY  "  D." — Sergeant  John  M.  Brainard,  missing  since  battle,  un 
doubtedly  killed ;  private  Marvin  Montague,  also  missing  and  undoubtedly  killed; 
private  Daniel  H.  Sheldon,  killed  with  the  colors  in  his  hands;  private  Tobias 
Gasser,  killed;  private  A.  Preston  Dunlap,  lost  right  arm,  discharged;  Sergeant 
James  S.  Go  wans,  right  hip ;  private  Paul  Homelius,  leg,  discharged;  private  George 
N.  Merrill,  right  lung  and  shoulder,  severe,  discharged ;  private  J.  Harrison  Mills 
left  groin,  severe,  discharged;  private  John  N.  Peabody,  left  thigh  and  ankle, 
severe,  discharged  ;  private  Pierce  Hurley,  nature  of  wound  unknown  ;  private  Frank 
Robinson,  mouth;  private  John  Rehm,  arm;  private  Charles  M.  Fox,  abdomen. 

COMPANY  "  E." — Lieutenant  William  L.  Whitney,  shot  through  both  legs,  and 
supposed  to  have  died  on  the  field ;  Lieutenant  Charles  E.  Efner,  breast ;  Corporal 
John  Hermann,  died  of  his  wounds ;  private  John  Burke,  killed ;  private  William 
Craw,  shoulder,  proved  mortal ;  private  Augustus  Kline,  killed ;  private  John 
Andrews,  right  leg,  unfit  for  duty  during  remainder  of  his  term  ;  private  Byron 


270  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Chaffee,  right  thigh,  severe,  discharged  in  consequence ;  private  Archibald  Johnson, 
right  hand,  severe,  discharged ;  Sergeant  Nathaniel  Lindley,  right  fore-arm ; 
Sergeant  Caleb  C.  McCready,  side  and  foot;  private  George  Peterson,  leg  badly 
broken;  private  George  Kaverlein,  thigh  and  leg;  private  Michael  Morgan,  leg; 
private  Jacob  Randall,  foot,  missing. 

COMPANY  "  F." — (COLOR  COMPANY.) — Sergeant  Henry  Spicer,  killed  with  the 
colors  in  his  hands,  by  a  ball  in  the  left  breast ;  Corporal  Jacob  Bellair,  died  of  his 
wounds;  Corporal  John  Johnson,  died  of  his  wounds;  private  John  Burke,  killed; 
Corporal  Lafferty  Nellis,  killed  ;  private  William  W.  Bement,  killed  ;  private  William 
B.  Constantine,  killed  ;  private  George  Mahley,  killed ;  private  Herbert  L.  De  Puy, 
wounded  and  missing,  undoubtedly  killed;  private  John  W.  Moore,  died  of  his 
wounds;  Lieutenant  John  A.  Barney,  left  thigh,  severe,  discharged;  Sergeant 
William  B.  Jewett,  breast  and  thigh,  severe,  Sergeant  Lyman  E.  Cobb,  left  thigh, 
severe,  discharged;  Corporal  Joseph  Billanger,  Jr.,  shoulder  and  throat,  severe; 
private  Charles  K.  Lillibridge,  right  leg;  private  James  McCarty,  side  and  nates, 
severe,  discharged  ;  private  George  Dupont,  right  thigh,  severe,  crippled  for  life ; 
private  Frank  W.  Lucas,  left  thigh;  private  Nicholas  Morris,  wound  unknown; 
private  Milton  Moon,  ball  through  left  foot;  private  Peter  Schyer,  right  thigh,  died 
December  i8th,  1862;  private  Theron  Schell,  lost  left  arm,  promoted  Corporal  on 
the  field  for  bravery,  discharged;  private  Jacob  Krettner,  Jr.,  thigh  and  shoulder; 
private  Michael  Whalon,  right  arm. 

COMPANY  "G." — Captain  (afterward  Major)  Edward  L.  Lee,  left  hip,  severe; 
Lieutenant  (afterward  Captain)  Daniel  Myers,  Jr.,  right  thigh  and  arm,  severe,  sent 
home;  private  George  Kurtz,  killed;  private  John  Shoemaker,  killed;  private 
William  Miller,  killed;  private  John  H.  Wolff,  killed;  private  John  Beard,  thigh, 
died  of  his  wound;  Sergeant  Charles  Myers,  right  arm,  severe,  discharged; 
Corporal  George  Weidrich,  right  arm  broken,  discharged ;  Corporal  William 

Hessinger,  left  shoulder ;  private  Jaoob  Leonard, ,  discharged;  private  James 

Beaton,  hand  ;  private  Orlando  F.  Day,  left  thigh,  missing;  private  Nicholas  Gerger, 
wounded  and  missing;  private  Christian  Hines,  head,  missing;  private  George 
Partridge,  right  side;  private  Frederick  Roberts,  jaw;  private  Julius  Sheffel,  left 
leg;  private  Peter  Wirt,  slight  wound;  private  Michael  Zurbrick,  right  leg;  private 
Frederick  Wright,  nature  of  wound  unknown  ;  private  T.  Davis,  nature  of  wound 
unknown  ;  private  John  Knowl,  right  thigh. 

COMPANY  "  H." — Private  Charles  Stoddard,  killed;  Corporal  Kurt  Rinckleben, 
missing  ever  since,  supposed  to  have  been  killed,  known  to  have  been  severely 
wounded  while  bearing  the  colors;  private  Charles  A.  Ewers,  missing  since  and 
supposed  killed;  Sergeant  James  B.  Cole,  abdomen,  died  of  his  wounds;  private 
Frederick  Schuchert,  died  of  his  wounds  ;  private  Christian  Brackenlicker,  unknown, 
severe  wound;  private  Alexander  Petrie,  leg;  private  Frank  Huber,  side  and  arm; 
private  Sanford  Freeman,  right  arm;  private  Francis  Ottenot,  right  thigh;  private 
Alexander  Johnson,  right  hip;  private  Michael  Biller,  right  fore-arm;  private  Moses 
La  Point,  shoulder;  private  Charles  Stever,  wound  unknown;  private  Kratz  Lapeer, 
wound  unknown  ;  private  Solomon  Weatherwax,  bayonet  thrust  in  ankle  and  thigh. 

COMPANY  "  I." — Captain  John  H.  Canfield,  ball  through  left  foot,  disabled 
and  discharged;  Lieutenant  James  S.  Mulligan,  left  lung,  remained  on  the  field  five 
days,  taken  home  and  died  of  his  wound  ;  Corporal  Stanley  Porter,  killed ;  private 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  2J I 

Charles  Benzino,  killed;  private  John  Diegle,  killed;  private  John  \V.  McKay, 
killed ;  private  Charles  T.  Shiels,  left  groin,  severe,  disabled ;  private  Charles 
Dougherty;  private  John  Brunk,  neck,  missing;  private  Jacob  Hart,  right  leg; 
private  J.  Hewes,  right  arm,  missing;  private  Peter  J.  Falb,  both  legs;  private  Peter 
Brunnel,  left  shoulder ;  private  Jacob  Hodick,  face;  private  Charles  Haggeity,  lost 
left  little  finger;  private  Henry  S.  Holmes,  right  leg;  private  David  Loughrey,  index 
tinker,  right  hand  ;  private  George  Quinton,  left  arm. 

COMPANY  "  K." — Sergeant  John  W.  Comstock,  bullet  fast  in  right  shoulder, 
disabled  and  discharged;  Corporal  William  E.  Hubble,  face;  private  William  H. 
Moore,  side  and  arm,  discharged;  private  Edward  V.  Babcock,  thigh;  private 
Alfred  F.  May,  foot;  private  Charles  Morselow,  struck  by  a  shell  and  a  bullet  wound 
from  right  shoulder  to  hip,  discharged  ;  private  Philip  Mallion,  wound  unknown. 

The  report  of  Doctors  Miner  and  Eastman  closes  as  follows : 
We  take  great  pleasure  in  saying  that  these  wounded  soldiers  are  very  kindly 
attended  by  both  physicians  and  nurses,  and  in  their  hospital  charters  are  very 
comfortable,  being  supplied  freely  with  clean  shirts  and  drawers  and  white  clean 
bedding.  Their  wounds  are  properly  dressed,  and  their  food  is  nutritious  and 
regularly  supplied.  We  have  been  careful  to  examine  their  wounds,  and  judge  for 
ourselves  as  to  their  prospects  for  recovery,  and  shall  be  happy  to  give  any  friends 
who  may  call  upon  us  full  particulars  of  the  condition  of  each  one  visited.  They  are 
generally  cheerful,  and  hopeful,  and  upon  our  appearance  and  an  explanation  of  the 
object  of  our  mission,  we  were  greeted  with  many  expressions  of  gratitude,  a  smile 
of  joy  lighting  up  the  sacl  countenances  of  those  in  the  greatest  pain  and  distress.  It 
has  been  a  tiresome  and  sad,  but  by  no  means  a  thankless  task  ;  the  soldier  has  made 
many  expressions  of  gratitude,  not  only  thanking  us,  but  those  through  whose 
thoughtfulness  and  generosity  we  visited  them.  It  has  been  a  great  pleasuiv,  for  them 
to  feel  that  they  were  remembered  by  the  people  of  Buffalo.  They  wear  the 
unmistakable  marks  of  most  heroic  bravery;  have  won  for  themselves  imperishable 
honor,  and  will  ever  be  remembered  with  pride  by  their  many  friends. 

SANFORD  EASTMAN. 
JULIUS  F.  MINER. 

To  enumerate  the  instances  of  personal  bravery  shown  upon 
this  ill  star-red  field,  would  take  more  time  and  room  than  we  can 
spare  ;  let  the  record  of  our  loss  tell  how  our  regiment  strove  that 
day,  and  who  can  ask  a  more  eloquent  panegyric  ?  The  dead  sleep 
well,  and  of  the  living  we  can  only  say,  what  will  most  gratify  them, 
that  each  man  did  his  duty,  and  did  it  well. 

The  following  extracts  are  clipped  from  letters  by  Colonel 
Rogers,  published  in  the  Buffalo  Courier : 

Our  regiment  formed  the  second  line  of  battle,  but  for  some  cause  or  other  it 
was  denominated  the  third,  and  manoeuvred  as  such  while  advancing  into  the  woods. 
Under  the  orders  of  General  Hatch,  the  lines  advanced  steadily  through  the  woods, 
on  the  outer  edge  of  which  was  a  roadway  and  a  rail  fence.  At  the  distance  of  about 
one  hundred  yards  from  the  woods,  and  running  diagonally  with  its  front,  was  a 
railroad  embankment,  behind  which  the  enemy  were  posted  in  strong  force,  with  line 


272  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

after  line  of  supports.  The  line  in  our  front  hesitated  when  it  reached  the  fence, 
being  received  by  a  galling  fire. from  the  entrenched  foe.  General  Hatch  rode  along 
the  rear  of  our  line,  and  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  forward,"  and  directed  the 
second  line  to  advance.  Forward  it  did  advance,  and  became  mingled  with  the 
first,  which  for  a  moment  created  some  confusion.  There  was  no  hesitation, 
however,  over  the  fence  and  into  the  open  ground, 

"  Into  the  jaws  of  death," 
Rushed  the  Five  Hundred. 

Terrible  indeed  was  the  fire  that  greeted  us.  The  musketry  fire  was  incessant, 
while  shot  and  shell  from  well  posted  batteries  enfiladed  the  space  over  which  we 
charged.  About  half  way  between  the  woods  and  the  embankment  was  a  ditch 
perhaps  two  feet  deep,  into  which  the  men  were  directed  to  take  shelter  and  engage 
the  enemy.  It  proved  a  safe  refuge  for  many  of  our  brave  boys,  who  here  maintained 
their  ground  until  directed  to  fall  back.  Many  of  them  were  killed  and  wounded 
while  retiring.  When  the  color  bearer  was  shot  down  another  would  grasp  it.  One 
of  them  was  wounded  trying  to  reach  the  woods,  when  Lieutenant  Wheeler  of 
Company  "  B,"  seized  them  and  brought  them  safely  out,  the  men  rallying  around  as 
he  regained  the  wood.  Soon  after  the  order  reached  us  to  retire  further  to  the 
rear.  The  day  was  lost.  Far  and  wide  over  the  immense  field  could  be  seen  the 
flying  fugitives,  while  here  and  there,  retiring  slowly,  and  in  good  order,  came 
regiment  after  regiment.  I  am  proud  to  say  that  our  brigade  was  among  the  latter, 
frequently  halting  to  support  a  battery  that  turned  to  give  the  advancing  rebels  a 
parting  compliment.  On  every  promontory  would  the  batteries  wheel  and  make  a 
stand,  contesting  every  foot  of  ground.  I  noticed  one  scene  not  often  witnessed. 
One  of  our  batteries  posted  on  a  commanding  eminence  was  replying  to  one  of  the 
enemy's  far  to  its  left.  On  its  right  emerging  from  the  woods,  and  advancing  in 
beautiful  order,  appeared  a  brigade  of  rebel  infantry.  They  marched  steadily  forward 
with  the  evident  intention  of  capturing  the  battery ;  but  the  gunners  did  not  appear 
to  be  aware  of  the  proximity  of  their  dangerous  foe,  but  kept  steadily  at  their' work, 
firing  off  to  the  left.  We  were  too  far  off  to  warn  them  of  their  danger.  Breathless 
I  stood  ;  my  very  heart  almost  ceased  to  beat,  and  every  fibre  of  my  frame  wrought 
to  its  utmost  tension,  as  this  magnificent  tragedy  was  being  enacted.  Slowly  and 
steadily  the  enemy  was  advancing,  the  distance  was  gradually  lessening,  and  every 
moment  I  expected  to  see  them  take  the  double  quick  and  charge  upon  the  battery. 
Suddenly  an  officer  rode  up  in  rear  of  the  battery,  and  pointed  to  the  right.  Quick 
as  thought,  the  guns  were  turned  upon  the  advancing  foe.  Grape  and  canister,  and 
shell  opened  great  gaps  in  their  lines.  They  lay  down  upon  the  ground,  but  still  the 
guns  belched  forth  their  destructive  fire.  Then  suddenly  rose  up  a  line  of  infantry 
and  poured  volley  after  volley  into  the  prostrate  ranks.  This  was  too  much  for  them. 
They  broke  and  fled  in  beautiful  disorder  to  the  cover  of  the  woods,  leaving  a  large 
number  of  dead  and  wounded  upon  the  field. 

The  whole  army  was  now  falling  back.  Our  brigade  soon  gained  the  road, 
and  crossing  Bull  Run,  marched  through  Centreville  and  bivouacked  for  the  night 
outside  the  entrenchments. 

The  behavior  of  all  the  officers  and  men,  who  have  participated  in  this 
disastrous  battle,  was  all  that  could  be  desired.  Major  Thomas  was  wounded  soon 
after  we  advanced  over  the  fence  towards  the  enemy,  and  was  forced  reluctantly  to 


TWENTY-MRST     RKGIMMNT.  273 

leave  the  field.     While  going  to  the  rear  he  did  good  service  in  rallying  the  fugitives. 
The  Adjutant,  too,  was  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry. 

-x- 

To  Lieutenant  H.  H.  Halsey,  of  "  K,"  I  am  indebted  for  the 
following-  description  of  the  fight  on  our  left,  his  being  the  flank 
company : 

Arrived  at  the  edge  of  the  woods,  a  rail  fence  and  an  open  field,  but  a  few  rods 
across,  were  all  that  separated  us  from  the  enemy,  who  lay  at  this  point,  concealed 
behind  a  railroad  embankment  directly  in  our  front. 

We  halted  but  a  moment  to  take  a  rapid  view  of  the  work  before  us,  then, 
obedient  to  the  command  of  General  Hatch,  who  was  urging  us  forward,  we  leaped 
across  the  road,  over  the  heads  of  the  line  in  front  of  us,  and  over  the  fence  into  the 
open  field,  where  we  were  met  with  the  most  severe  shock  we  had  ever  experienced. 
A  continuous  and  murderous  volley  hurled  into  our  ranks  like  a  hurricane,  sweeping 
a  hundred  brave  men  into  eternity. 

Men  whose  names  shall  be  written  on  the  brightest  page  of  history,  were 
dropping  dead  and  wounded  on  all  sides.  Here  fell  Captain  Washburne,  never  to 
rise  again  on  earth.  Here  fell  Lieutenant  James  S.  Mulligan,  mortally  wounded. 
Here  Johnny  Hatch,  (nephew  of  our  division  commander),  the  life  and  soul  of  Co. 
"  B's"  camp  fires,  finished  life's  campaign  while  it  was  yet  full  of  hope  and  promise. 

Many  of  them  I  supposed  to  be  stooping  or  lying  down  to  avoid  that  storm 
of  bullets,  but  they  failed  to  follow,  and  now  sleep  upon  that  consecrated  field. 

It  was,  I  believe,  the  intention  to  charge  the  embankment  and  take  it  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  but  it  was  now  impossible,  our  ranks  already  broken,  from 
pushing  through  the  woods,  through  the  first  line  and  over  the  fence,  "  every  man 
for  himself,"  because  so  reduced  by  this  first  volley  as  to  be  but  a  scattered  line 
of  skirmishers,  and  a  charge  would  be  ineffectual. 

About  half  way  between  the  fence  and  the  embankment  was  a  small  ditch 
running  nearly  parallel  with  our  line,  in  which,  with  some  skill  and  maneuvering, 
the  selected  few  might  conceal  all  but  that  unimportant  part  of  the  soldier's  body,  the 
head,  from  the  enemy. 

Into  this  those  who  reached  it  "  piled  promiscuously,"  and  for  a  few  seconds 
very  deliberately  blazed  away  at  the  heads  which  made  the  most  distinct  mark  over 
the  embankment,  occasionally  dodging  the  fire  from  our  own  line  in  the  rear;  until  a 
cheer  from  behind  the  fence,  sounding  to  our  ears  like  the  advance  of  our  support, 
raised  us  from  the  ditch,  and  forward  again;  but  giving  one  rapid  glance  backward, 
and  no  support  being  visible,  we  again  drop;  not  into  a  ditch,  it  is  not  deep  enough 
to  be  called  that;  but  behind  a  slight  rise  in  the  ground,  which  we  endeavor  to 
believe  affords  a  sort  of  "  forlorn  hope  "  protection,  if  nothing  more. 

Yet  all  did  not  stop  here.  A  few,  more  daring,  unmindful  of  their  comrades, 
rushed  on  in  advance  of  the  line  and  reached  the  embankment. 

One  in  particular  I  noticed,  and  all  who  saw  him  must  have  been  struck  with 
admiration.  It  was  facob  Schoenthal  of"  I>,"  I  think,  who,  pulling  his  cap  tight  on 
his  head,  fixed  bayonet,  seized  his  musket  with  a  firm  hand,  and  with  teeth  set,  made 
a  savage  charge,  which  an  old  trooper  might  envy.  And  he  I  think  was  one  of  those 
killed  by  the  stones  thrown  down  the  bank  by  the  enemy. 


274  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

Our  line,  as  it  entered  the  field,  was  not  parallel  to  the  railroad  embankment, 
the  right  being  nearest,  the  extreme  right  being  on  the  embankment  into  the  enemy's 
line  engaged  "  hand  to  hand  ;  "  but  that  part  of  the  line  being  partially  covered  by 
woods,  and  there  being  serious  indications  of  business  in  our  own  vicinity,  we  did 
not  find  it  convenient  to  make  very  extensive  notes  of  its  movements. 

In  advancing  across  the  field  the  left  had  swayed  toward  the  right,  which,  as 
we  lay  in  our  "  last  ditch,"  left  us  exposed  to  an  enfilading  fire  from  a  battery  on  our 
left,  which  poured  grape  and  cannister  over  our  heads  into  the  woods  on  the  right 
with  a  terrific  crash,  that  threatens  the  annihilation  of  that  end  of  our  line.  An 
occasional  grape  reminding  ^ts  that  we  were  not  forgotten,  by  walking  through  a 
haversack,  ripping  the  seam  of  a  coat,  or  taking  a  lock  of  hair  "  to  remember  you  by." 
It  seemed  scarcely  ten  minutes  since  we  left  the  fence,  yet  the  present  state 
of  things  could  not  last  much  longer. 

The  rebs  were  getting  impatient  and  more  daring,  exposing  themselves  more 
than  was  good  for  their  health  under  the  circumstances,  one  after  another  standing 
boldly  upon  the  bank,  saucily  waving  the  rebel  rag,  then  bounding  up  and  backward 
with  a  Minnie  ball  through  his  heart  as  a  reward  for  his  foolish  daring. 

Here  we  lay  in  suspense,  doing  comparatively  nothing,  yet  doing  the  best  we 
could,  and  waiting  for  a  turn  in  the  affairs  which  we  knew  must  come  soon,  though 
we  had  not  much  to  hope  for  in  our  favor.  There  was  no  time  to  think  of  the  past  or 
future,  the  present  was  enough  to  occupy  both  mind  and  body,  and  the  dusky  heads 
raised  to  aim  at  us  over  the  embankment,  offered  sufficient  opportunity  to  display  our 
marksmanship,  and  make  use  of  our  ammunition;  which  was  not  always  lost,  for  the 
frequent  exclamations  from  our  boys,  such  as  "  I  guess  that  settled  your  dinner,"  "I'll 
bet  there's  a  hole  in  your  '  bread  basket,'  "  etc.,  meant  that  the  bullet  reached  its 
mark,  produced  the  desired  effect,  and  lessened  the  number  of  our  enemies  just  one 
each  time ;  or  as  a  lank  six  foot  rebel  shows  himself  above  the  bank  with  a  huge 
stone  raised  above  his  head,  with  the  intention  of  dashing  out  the  brains  of  one  of  the 
few  of  our  boys  who  were  lying  flat  against  the  side  of  the  bank,  the  discharge  of  a 
rifle  near  me  is  accompanied  with  the  remark,  "  that's  played  out,"  which,  being 
interpreted,  meaneth  such  a  barbarous,  uncivilized  mode  of  warfare  is  not 
countenanced  by  Christians,  and  the  use  of  the  modern  invention  is  much  more  polite 
and  quite  as  conventional ;  which  argument  the  reb  feels  the  force  of,  for  he  deviates 
from  his  former  plan,  and  as  he  makes  a  death  leap  backward  the  stone  falls  harmless 
to  the  ground. 

While  we  were  thus  pleasantly  occupying  our  few  leisure  moments,  word  came 
from  the  right  that  the  order  is  "to  fall  back;"  but  it  not  being  a  very  desirable 
movement  to  perform,  with  a  heavy  fire  both  in  front  and  rear,  our  present  position 
being  comfortably  warm,  and  there  being  some  doubt  as  to  the  genuineness  of  the 
order,  we  hesitated. 

At  this  moment  a  whiz,  and  a  tick  on  my  boot  attracted  my  attention,  and  ] 
discovered  one  of  the  24th  New  York,  who  had  been  slightly  wounded  before,  and 
had  crawled  behind  me  in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave  his  feet  on  mine,  had  them  both 
taken  off  by  a  shot.  While  I  was  endeavoring  to  get  a  suspender  loose  to  tie  around 
his  legs  and  stop  the  flow  of  blood,  and  he  heaping  bitter  curses  upon  the  enemy, 
particularly  those  who  sent  that  shot,  word  came  that  our  line  had  fallen  back,  and 
the  enemy  was  preparing  to  charge. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  275 

It  takes  little  time  to  think,  decide  and  act  under  such  circumstances,  and  while 
we  were  debating  in  our  own  minds  whether  it  was  a  greater  disgrace  to  fall  back  or 
remain  "with  a  certainty  of  being  captured,  the  enemy  was  leaping  with  demon  like 
yells  over  the  bank. 

This  was  the  time  we  took  to  make  our  "masterly  retreat."  The  rebs  could 
not  charge  and  fire  very  rapidly  at  the  same  time,  yet  our  chances  for  life  were  not 
very  favorable  in  facing  our  own  fire  and  passing  in  range  of  the  enemy's  grape. 

Our  "squad,"  consisting  of  about  a  dozen  men,  urged  by  such  a  powerful 
motive,  soon  reached  the  ditch  we  crossed  on  first  entering  the  field ;  into  this  we 
unanimously  dropped,  from  what  motive  each  man  knew  best ;  but  perhaps  to  make 
another  stand,  supposing  from  the  number  of  dead  and  wounded  in  the  ditch  there 
were  enough  to  make  quite  a  "  show."  But  finding  they  were  not  likely  to  render 
us  much  assistance,  we  were  no  sooner  in  than  out  again,  and  over  the  fence  where 
some  of  our  own  troops  were  still  lying,  endeavoring  to  check  the  enemy. 

Here  in  the  woods  we  found  General  Patrick,  quite  as  calm  in  appearance,  and 
collected  as  on  parade,  who  directed  us  to  our  colors  and  the  remaining  portion  of 
our  regiment,  which  we  found  drawn  up  in  line  behind  a  piece  of  woods  near 
the  field. 

The  regiment,  scarcely  large  enough  to  be  called  a  company,  was  marched  to 
the  rear  t8  form  part  of  a  guard  to  prevent  panic  stricken  men  from  flying  from  the 
field,  and  no  such  men  passed.  Every  one  felt  himself  a  veteran,  and  the  regiment, 
but  seventy-five  officers  and  men,  felt  itself  equal  to  a  full  "  bounty  "  regiment. 

The  flag,  but  lately  without  a  rent,  was  now  sufficient  evidence  that  we  had 
done  our  duty  and  meant  that  others  should  do  theirs.  The  shot  and  shell,  though 
not  for  our  "special  benefit,"  tore  through  the  trees,  making  sad  havoc  in  all 
directions,  but  they  did  not  have  the  effect  they  might  have  had  two  hours  before. 
We  felt  more  like  soldiers  now,  yet  we  could  not  resist  the  deep  melancholy  feeling 
oppressing  our  hearts  as  we  thought  of  the  result  of  that  day's  battle,  when  we  had 
hoped  for  so  much. 

It  was  our  first  real  battle,  and  we  had  been  defeated,  and  with  this  thought 
uppermost  in  our  minds,  we  took  up  our  line  of  march  in  the  dark  to  the  rear. 

We  now  resume  our  extracts  from  the  letters  of  Colonel  Rogers. 

We  rested  quietly  at  Centreville  on  the  night  of  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  In 
the  morning  we  moved  about  a  mile  toward  Fairfax  Court  House,  and  bivouacked 
by  the  side  of  the  road.  About  5  o'clock  P.  M.  General  Patrick  received  orders  to 
detail  two  regiments  of  his  brigade  to  escort  a  train  from  Centreville  to  Fairfax,  a 
distance  of  eight  miles.  The  rebel  cavalry  had  already  commenced  to  trouble  our 
flanks  and  rear.  The  Twenty-First  and  23d  regiments  were  selected  to  guard  the 
train.  The  regiments  were  turned  out  quickly  and  moved  oft".  Nothing  occurred 
until  we  were  within  a  mile  or  two  of  Fairfax,  when  the  report  of  artillery  was  heard 
in  our  rear.  The  rebels  had  brought  a  light  battery  down  the  Warrenton  pike,  and 
commenced  shelling  the  trains  on  the  Centreville  road.  Some  half  a  dozen  rounds 
were  fired.  They  had  no  doubt  seen  our  train  with  its  guard,  and  prudently  allowed 
it  to  pass  on  a  mile  or  two  before  making  any  demonstration,  and,  satisfied  with  the 
consternation  produced  among  the  teamsters  and  ambulance  drivers,  limbered  up 
and  moved  off.  Little  damage  was  done  aside  from  the  fright,  as  it  had  the  effect 


276  CHRONICLES     OF  THE 

of  starting  about  six  regiments  of  infantry  and  a  battery  of  artillery,  who  passed  us  on 
the  road,  and  I  presume  never  halted  until  they  reached  Alexandria. 

We  readied  Fairfax  about  9  P.  M.,  and  as  our  orders  required  us  to  go  no 
further,  we  bivouacked  for  the  night.  In  the  morning  we  started  back  to  join  the 
brigade,  but  met  it  coming  toward  us,  after  proceeding  about  a  mile. 

Joining  it,  we  returned  to  Fairfax,  where  the  brigade  halted.  In  the  afternoon 
orders  were  received  directing  us  to  join  the  division  at  Centreville,  and  we  were  soon 
in  motion.  After  accomplishing  about  half  the  distance,  we  were  turned  back  by 
General  Hooker,  and  ordered  to  move  over  to  Germantown,  on  the  Warrenton  pike. 

The  enemy  had  turned  our  right  and  was  endeavoring  to  get  in  our  rear  to  cut 
off  our  retreat.  Germantown  was  the  point  menaced,  and  General  Hooker  was 
despatched  to  thwart  his  design.  How  well  he  accomplished  it  you  already 
know. 

Our  brigade  moved  rapidly  to  the  place  assigned  it,  and  occupied  the  rifle  pits 
constructed  by  the  rebels  last  fall,  when  they  expected  us  to  make  an  advance  from 
Washington.  We  did  not  reach  it  a  moment  too  soon,  as  we  had  scarcely  occupied 
the  pits  and  planted  our  battery  when  a  rebel  officer,  mounted,  accompanied  by 
several  infantry  soldiers,  made  their  appearance  in  the  road  through  the  woods. 
Seeing  the  position  occupied,  which  was  one  of  great  strength,  they  disappeared.  The 
attack,  however,  was  made  further  down  to  our  left,  where  they  were  repulsed  and 
forced  to  retire.  General  Phil  Kearney  was  killed  here. 

We  remained  in  the  rifle  pits  all  night,  and  during  a  violent  rain  storm.  The 
fight  was  continued  long  after  night  set  in  and  during  the  storm.  The  roar  of  artillery 
was  mingled  with  that  of  thunder,  and  the  flash  of  our  guns  was  answered  by  the 
lightnings  of  Heaven.  The  enemy  was  foiled  in  his  attempt  to  gain  our  rear,  and  the 
army  was  saved.  This  was  the  battle  of  Chantilly. 

We  left  the  pits  on  the  following  day,  and  continuing  our  march  without 
interruption,  arrived  on  Upton  Hill  about  10  P.  M.,  September  2. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  a  force  of  the  enemy  appeared  in  front 
of  Falls  Church,  and  threw  a  number  of  shells  into  the  village,  creating  a  lively 
stampede  on  a  small  scale  among  some  cavalry  and  teamsters  lying  in  the  vicinity. 
Our  brigade,  with  a  battery,  was  at  once  ordered  out.  We  moved  out  beyond  the 
village  and  laid  on  our  arms  all  night  without  further  molestation. 

Returning  to  camp  on  the  4th,  three  days  of  rest  were  vouchsafed  us. 

With  all  the  inspiriting  confidence  of  success,  the  victorious 
enemy  now  pushed  on  for  further  advantage.  McClellan  had, 
immediately  upon  his  arrival  from  the  peninsula,  been  placed  in 
command  of  the  defences  of  Washington ;  while  his  forces  were 
grouped  in  front  and  moved  to  our  assistance.  Our  retreat  from 
the  disastrous  field  of  Bull  Run  threw  the  entire  army  again  upon 
Washington,  and  within  his  line  of  defence.  Confidence  in  Pope  as 
a  commander,  seemed  to  have  deserted  not  only  the  entire  army, 
but  even  the  heads  of  the  government,  and  Washington  quaked  to 
its  shaken  center,  as  the  tidings  of  reverse  and  disaster  swept  down 
upon  its  streets  with  the  first  wave  of  our  retreating  force.  One 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  277 

only  alternative  seemed  to  remain.  The  man  who  possessed  alone 
the  almost  entire  confidence  of  the  army,  a  confidence  strong  if  not 
deserved,  stood  ready  to  resume  the  post  from  which  he  had  been: 
taken — at  its  head.  No  one  who  saw  it  can  forget  the  revival  of  life 
and  hope  that  stirred  our  broken  ranks,  when  the  fact  of  his 
re-instatement  was  announced.  Even  in  the  hospital,  men  who  were 
fresh  from  the  appalling  scenes  of  those  last  days  of  confusion, 
seemed  to  take  heart  anew,  and,  as  they  listened  day  after  day  to 
the  tidings  that  followed  the  news-boy  through  the  wards,  gathered 
fortitude  and  hope,  as  they  mentally  traced  the  steps  of  their 
victorious  comrades. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday,  September  2d,  McClellan  crossed 
the  Potomac  and  rode  to  the  front.  Ascertaining  the  direction  in 
which  the  various  corps  were  returning,  he  immediately  arranged 
the  troops,  and  designated  the  positions  they  were  to  occupy.  The 
next  morning  saw  everything  in  place,  the  issue  of  necessary 
supplies  attended  to,  and  every  preparation  made  to  repulse  the 
expected  attack.  On  the  same  day  the  enemy  disappeared  from 
our  front,  and  it  became  evident  that  he  intended  to  cross  the  Upper 
Potomac  into  Maryland.  This,  says  McClellan,  "  materially  changed 
the  aspect  of  affairs,  and  enlarged  the  sphere  of  operations;  for,  in 
case  of  crossing  in  force,  an  active  campaign  would  be  necessary,  to 
cover  Baltimore,  prevent  the  invasion  of  Pennsylvania,  and  clear 
Maryland." 

The  2d  and  i2th  corps,  under  Generals  Sumner  and  Williams, 
were  immediately  ordered  to  Tenallytown,  about  twelve  miles  above 
Washington,  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the  river,  and  the  gth  corps, 
Reno's,  to  a  point  on  the  Seventh  street  road,  near  the  Capitol. 
All  the  available  cavalry  were  sent  to  watch  and  impede  the  enemy 
in  any  attempt  to  cross  at  the  fords  near  Poolsville. 

On  September  5th,  the  2d  and  i2th  corps  were  moved  to 
Rockville,  and  Couch's  division  (the  only  one  of  the  4th  corps  that- 
had  been  brought  from  the  peninsula)  to  OfTut's  Cross  Roads. 

McDowell  had  been  superseded  by  General  Hooker,  in  the 
command  of  the  ist  corps.  This  corps,  in  which  we  still  belonged, 
was,  on  the  6th,  ordered  with  that  of  General  Reno,  to  march  on 
Leesburg;  the  6th  corps,  Franklin's,  and  Sykes'  division  of  the  5th, 
also  moving  on  Tenallytown,  relieving  the  2d  and  i2th.  General 
Banks  having  received  his  instructions  from  McClellan,  was  left  in 
command  at  Washington. 

It  was,  therefore,  on  the  evening  of  September  6th.  that  our 


278  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

regiment  left  its  temporary  resting  place  and  resumed   the  march, 
which  I  will  leave  Colonel  Rogers  to  describe. 

On  the  evening  of  Saturday,  September  6th,  we  received  orders  to  move,  and 
•started  at  midnight,  towards  Washington.  The  road  was  blocked  with  trains, 
making  our  march  a  very  tedious  and  disagreeable  one.  Crossing  the  Aqueduct 
bridge  we  marched  through  Georgetown  and  Washington  about 'daylight  on  Sunday 
morning,  and  turning  into  Seventh  street,  took  the  road  to  Leesboro,  Maryland,  which 
place  we  reached  the  following  day.  This  Sunday  march  was  one  of  the  most 
fatiguing  and  harrassing  of  the  campaign. 

Continuing  our  march  from  day  to  day  we  reached  the  bank  of  the  Monocacy 
on  Saturday  evening,  September  I3th. 

There  was  a  marked  contrast  in  this  march  through  Maryland,  with  those  of  the 
campaign  in  Virginia.  Everywhere  we  were  greeted  with  cheers  and  words  of 
welcome.  The  inhabitants  of  the  village  and  the  roadside  had  pails  and  tubs  of  fresh 
water  in  front  of  their  dwellings,  which  the  girls  and  boys  dealt  out  to  the  thisty 
troops  as  they  passed. 

"It  is  a  little  thing  to  give  a  cup  of  water,"  but  many  a  poor  soldier  was 
refreshed  and  invigorated  as  he  quaffed  the  draught,  and  straightening  himself  up 
moved  forward  with  quickened  pace  to  take  his  place  in  the  ranks.  God  bless  the 
loyal  women  of  Maryland. 

At  daylight  on  Sunday,  September  I4th,  we  crossed  the  stone  bridge  on  the 
National  road  over  the  Monocacy  river,  and  at  an  early  hour  marched  through  the 
city  of  Frederick,  Maryland.  How  different  from  our  march  through  Fredericksburg, 
Virginia.  The  stars  and  stripes  were  hung  out  from  almost  every  house,  and  the 
joyful  countenances  of  the  citizens  gave  unmistakable  evidence  that  they  looked  upon 
and  welcomed  us  as  deliverers. 

On  we  marched,  through  the  city,  up  the  broad  National  road,  until  we  reached 
the  summit  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  A  halt  for  a  short  time  enabled  us  to  enjoy  the 
grandeur  of  the  scenery,  spread  out  before  us  like  a  panorama.  The  evidences  of 
conflict,  too,  presented  themselves.  A  pool  of  blood  on  the  middle  of  the  road 
showed  where  a  rebel  battery  had  been  planted  to  check  our  advancing  column,  but 
a  well  directed  shell  from  one  of  our  guns  killed  three  horses  and  disabled  a  number 
of  their  gunners,  which  forced  them  to  retire.  Looking  back  towards  the  city,  the 
long  columns  of  infantry  were  seen  winding  up  the  road,  their  arms  glistening  in  the 
bright  morning  sun.  The  sound  of  the  "church  going  bell"  came  faintly  up  from 
the  beautiful  valley,  and  thoughts  of  home  and  the  sanctuary  brought  the  tears 
unbidden  to  the  eye. 

Resting  a  few  minutes  the  column  moved  on,  descending  the  mountain  road. 
Before  us  lay  the  valley  between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  South  Mountain— a  picture  that 
seemed  to  be  even  more  beautiful  than  the  one  on  the  other  side.  It  was  a  bright, 
beautiful  day,  God's  blessed  day  of  rest,  to  all  but  the  soldier.  The  head  of  the 
column  was  approaching  the  foot  of  South  Mountain,  on  which  the  enemy  had  taken 
his  stand,  with  the  determination  of  disputing  our  passage.  On  reaching  the  valley, 
the  division  turned  off  from  the  road  into  the  field  for  rest  and  refreshments. 
Meanwhile  an  artillery  skirmish  had  taken  place  on  the  mountain.  It  was  evident 
that  a  battle  must  be  fought  —  that  while  our  wives  and  children  were  listening  to  the 


TWENTY- FIRST     REGIMENT.  279 

words  once  uttered  by  the  Prince  of  Peace,  their  husbands  and  fathers  were  to  be 
engaged  in  deadly  conflict. 

From  the  letters  of  Colonel  Rogers,  and  the  various  published 
reports,  chiefly  those  of  Major  General  McClellan,  and  Brigadier 
General  Doubleday,  commanding  the  division,  and  from  the 
previously  quoted  work  of  Captain  George  F.  Noyes,  who  earned 
honorable  mention  in  this  action,  I  compile  the  following  history 
of  the  part  taken  by  the  Twenty- First  in  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain,  September  i/j-th,  1862  : 

Our  division  left  the  Monocacy,  as  previously  stated,  at  six  in 
the  morning  of  that  day,  arriving  about  noon  at  Catoctin  Creek, 
near  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  Here  the  column  halted  until  about 
half-past  two,  when  Brigadier  General  Hatch  assumed  command,  in 
place  of  General  King,  who  was  assigned  to  other  duty. 

The  enemy's  position  was  on  the  summit  of  South  Mountain. 
To  avoid  the  fire  of  his  batteries,  which  had  already  opened  upon 
our  advance,  from  the  heights,  and  to  which  our  own  were 
responding  from  the  left,  the  division  was  diverged  from  the  main 
road,  and  struck  off  in  a  by-road  to  the  right,  which  gradually 
approached  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  led  to  a  stone  church  at 
its  foot.  Here  we  found  General  Hooker  and  his  staff.  The 
division  at  this  time  consisted  of  Doubleday's,  Patrick's  and  Phelps' 
(late  Hatch's)  brigades,  General  Gibbon  having  been  detached  with 
his  brigade  on  special  service. 

To  General  Hooker  had  been  assigned  the  storming  of  the  hill 
on  the  right  of  the  pass.  The  general  order  of  battle  was  for  two 
regiments  of  Partick's  brigade  to  precede  the  main  body,  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  and  supported  by  his  two  remaining  regiments. 

The  Twenty-First  was  now  ordered  forward  and  took  the  right 
of  the  advance.  Knapsacks  were  unslung,  and  three  companies 
from  each  flank  thrown  forward  and  deployed,  followed  by  the 
remaining  four  as  a  reserve  and  support.  On  our  left  was  the  line 
of  the  35th  New  York,  under  Colonel  Lord,  and  away  to  our  right 
stretched  that  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves.  The  23d  New  York, 
under  Colonel  Hoffman,  supported  the  35th,  and  the  line  of  the 
Twenty-First  was  supported  by  that  of  the  2oth  New  York,  under 
Colonel  Gates.  Phelps'  brigade  followed  in  column  of  division  at 
half  distance,  preserving  the  intervals  of  deployment ;  and  next  came 
that  of  General  Doubleday,  in  the  same  order. 

And  now  commences  the  ascent  of  the  mountain.  With  almost 
breathless  anxiety  the  progress  of  our  long  line  of  skirmishers  is 


280  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

watched  by  thousands  of  eager  and  anxious  men,  as  slowly,  slowly, 
now  halting  as  if  to  listen,  now  crouching  a  while  on  the  ground, 
-with  muskets  ever  ready  for  instant  service,  they  push  up  toward 
the  woods,  every  tree  in  which  may  conceal  a  rebel  sharpshooter. 
A  few  hundred  feet  in  their  rear  moves  the  long  dark  line  of  the 
reserve,  upon  whom  the  skirmishers  will  rally  when  they  have 
unmasked  the  enemy.* 

On  reaching  a  road  part  way  up  the  mountain,  parallel  to  its 
summit,  and  just  at  the  edge  of  the  woods,  the  2oth  moved  up,  by 
order  of  General  Patrick,  and  forms  upon  our  left.  And  now  the 
warning  rattle  of  musktry  among  the  trees  in  front  and  a  rush 
of  bullets  betoken  our  approach  to  the  disputed  ground.  Steadily 
and  cautiously  our  skirmishers  advance,  gradually  gaining  ground. 
The  wounded  begin  to  drop  to  the  rear,  and  steadily  and  rapidly 
the  firing  increases.  So  steep  is  the  ascent  that  it  is  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  that  our  eager  men  are  kept  in  line.  So  speedily 
have  they  advanced  that  the  supporting  forces  are  left  far  behind, 
so  the  line  is  halted  and  caused  to  lie  down  quietly  behind  a  fence, 
until  the  other  brigades  arrive  in  supporting  distance. 

It  is  now  near  sunset ;  "  the  air  is  bland  and  delicious,  and 
while  the  men  rest  we  turn  and  look  back  at  the  valley  through 
which  we  have  been  marching  to-day.  Frederick  City  is  not  visible, 
as  a  turn  in  the  valley  interposes  a  hilly  elbow ;  but  Middletown 
lies  below  us,  while  stretching  off  toward  the  North  and  East  is  a 
lovely  swell,  buttressed  by  hilly  ranges,  smiling  with  orchards,  fields 
of  ripening  grain,  and  cheerful  farm  houses — truly  a  valley  ot 
content  and  beauty.  There  is  little  of  the  sublime  about  this  view, 
but  it  is  very  soothing,  and  offers  so  strong  a  contrast  to  our  present 
fearful  business  as  to  daguerreotype  itself  upon  my  imagination 
forever.  Oh !  how  the  thought  of  the  Sunday  evening  calm  now 
brooded  over  certain  familiar  streets  and  home  circles,  adds  one 
feature  more  to  this  impressive  contrast. 

Upon  the  left,  beyond  the  gorge,  and  upon  the  farther  spur 
of  the  mountain,  the  other  wing  of  our  little  army  under  the  gallant 
Reno,  whose  valuable  life  is,  alas,  to  be  the  crowning  sacrifice  of 


""•Colonel  Rogers  relates  the  following  incident :  While  our  skirmishers  were  moving  up  the 
mountain,  they  were  met  by  an  old  lady  who  had  been  frightened  from  her  home  by  the  threatening 
appearance  of  things.  In  a  state  of  great  mental  excitement  she  inquired  where  they  were  going. 
An  officer  replied  that  they  were  "  only  going  up  the  hill.  "  Don't  you  go  there,"  she  exclaimed, 
waving  them  back  with  her  hands.  "There  are  hundreds  of  'em  up  there.  Don't  you  go.  Some 
of  you  will  get  hurt  !"  This  little  scene  amused  the  boys  very  much,  and  "  Some  of  you  will  get 
hurt,"  became  a  standing  jest. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  28 1 

this  day,  is  pressing  back  the  enemy  with  vigor,  and  the  noise 
of  conflict  tells  us  how  surely  they  are  doing  their  work. 

Upon  our  right  is  a  deep  gorge  extending  far  into  the  woods. 
Through  this  we  see  advancing  the  deployed  lines  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Reserves ;  under  Brigadier  General  Seymour.  A 
rebel  battery  opens  upon  them  from  across  an  open  field  in  front. 
Our  skirmishers  leap  to  their  feet  and  open  upon  the  gunners  with 
a  vigor  and  precision  that  makes  their  work  extremely  difficult. 
Several  times  the  guns  are  drawn  back  into  the  wood,  loaded,  and 
then  again  pushed  forward  and  fired.  But  our  rapid  and  well 
directed  volleys  soon  induced  them  to  withdraw  entirely.  And  now 
the  Reserves  reach  a  ledge  just  within  the  edge  of  the  wood  and  lie 
down  quietly  behind  it.  Soon  a  regiment  in  gray  are  seen 
advancing  across  a  field  toward  them.  Up  to  the  very  edge,  and 
we  stand  in  momentary  expectation  of  seeing  them  stagger  back  as 
that  ledge  breaks  into  a  sheet  of  flame,  but  still  all  is  silent.  They 
push  on  into  the  wood  ;  they  have  almost  reached  the  spot  where 
our  men  are  lying,  when  with  a  yell  that  makes  the  mountain  side 
ring  again  our  boys  are  up  and  at  them ;  there  is  a  wild  mixing 
of  swarming  figures  among  the  trees,  a  few  demoralized  rebels 
emerge  and  break  in  panic  stricken  speed  for  the  rear,  and  again 
all  is  quiet.* 

One  of  General  Patrick's  aids  now  appeared  with  the  welcome 
news  that  our  supports  were  approaching,  and  orders  for  the 
skirmishers  to  advance  and  unmask  the  enemy's  position.  We 
cross  the  fence  and  advance,  slow  and  steadily,  up  the  mountain 
side,  which  becomes  so  broken  and  rocky  that  a  halt  becomes 
necessary  every  fifteen  or  twenty  paces,  to  close  up  and  dress  the 
line.  Arriving  some  thirty  paces  from  the  crest  of  the  mountain, 
our  Colonel  pushes  forward  to  reconnoitre  the  ground. 

At  the  edge  of  the  woods  is  a  fence,  and,  beyond,  a  corn  field 
on  the  left  and  a  large  open  field  on  the  right.  The  skirmishers 
of  the  enemy  hold  the  cornfield  and  the  fences  which  run  at  right 
angles  from  the  wood,  and  across  the  open  field  a  large  force  is 
rapidly  approaching  the  fence  in  our  front,  an  important  position 
which  we  are  just  in  time  to  secure. 

Our  skirmishers  are  already  up  to  the  fence,  and  our  little 
reserve  is  also  hurried  up  by  the  Colonel,  and  all  lie  down  behind 


*This  was,  at  that  time,  as  Colonel  Rogers  aptly  names  it,  "one  of  the  most  brilliant  little 
achievements  of  the  war."  General  Seymour  had  allowed  the  enemy  to  approach  within  a  few 
paces,  and  then  ordering  a  charge  he  took  three  hundred  prisoners  without  firing  a  gun. 


282  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

it.  Hatch's  brigade,  on  the  left,  reaches  it  at  about  the  same  time, 
and  in  another  moment  a  fierce  volley  welcomes  our  friends  in  gray, 
and  they  are  driven  back  with  terrible  loss  to  the  fence  on  the  other 
side,  where  they  rally  and  return  the  fire.  Rapid  and  continuous 
is  the  fusilade  that  follows ;  the  mountain  top  reeks  with  a 
sulphurous  veil,  out  of  which  rises  a  horrid  turmoil,  and  the  echoes 
fly  to  hide  in  every  nook  and  valley,  so  peacefully  slumbering  an 
hour  ago,  while  beneath  its  deadly  shadow  a  mortal  struggle  piles 
the  earth  with  victims.  Our  insufficient  force  is  hotly  pressed,  but 
the  brave  boys  know  what  depends  upon  the  position  they  are  so 
fiercely  maintaining,  until  the  supporting  brigades,  already  near, 
can  come  to  their  assistance. 

Captain  Noyes,  who  is  with  one  of  these  brigades  moving  up 
to  the  rear  of  Hatch,  thus  describes  what  followed : 

"  As  we  pressed  on,  our  brigade  line  wavers  a  little,  the  flanks 
pressing  ahead  of  the  centre,  or  one  flank  out-marching  the  other, 
yet  preserving,  on  the  whole,  a  good,  strong,  steady  line  of  attack. 
The  air  is  now  full  of  shrieking  lead,  and  we  hear  just  ahead  of  us 
the  cheers  and  yells  of  the  opposing  troops,  the  never  ceasing  rattle 
of  musketry,  and  all  the  awful  din  of  battle.  Out  of  this  carnival 
of  noise  and  fire  rushes  the  Adjutant  of  the  first  brigade,  a  noble 
specimen  of  American  chivalry,  exclaiming,  '  Our  brigade  can  not 
sustain  itself  much  longer,  as  we  are  nearly  out  of  ammunition.  For 
God's  sake,  to  the  front! '  At  the  word  the  brigade  is  moved  up 
even  more  rapidly,  restrained,  however,  by  the  field  and  staff 
officers,  still  riding  in  front.  '  Steady,  boys,  steady  ! '  is  the  word 
all  along  the  line.  Another  minute,  and  the  edge  of  the  woods  is 
gained,  and  there  at  the  fence  which  skirts  it  at  Hatch's  brigade, 
standing,  falling,  desperately  fighting  at  this  bloodily  contested 
boundary.  Cheer  upon  cheer  from  our  men  goes  up  to  Heaven, 
and  now,  in  admirable  order,  they  rush  into  their  places,  Hatch's 
brigade  falling  back  to  rest  a  while  after  their  fierce  encounter. 

"  Beyond  this  fence  is  an  open  space  of  about  a  hundred  feet  in 
depth  between  the  fence  and  a  corn  field,  and  in  this  space  a  strong 
force  of  the  enemy,  partially  protected  by  rocky  ledges  and 
inequalities  of  surface,  forming  natural  rifle-pits,  is  pressing  heavily 
upon  our  position,  charging  gallantly  two  or  three  times,  to  be  as 
gallantly  repulsed  before  they  reach  the  fence,  and  sweeping  it 
meanwhile  with  sheets  of  fire.  Conscious  of  the  weakness  of  our 
own  line,  with  no  reserves  near  us,  unable  to  form  any  idea  of  the 
force  opposed  to  us,  the  only  thing  to  be  done  is  to  hold  this  fence 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  283 

at  all  hazards  lest  the  enemy,  breaking  through  at  this  point,  shall 
flank  and  put  to  rout  the  troops  on  both  sides  of  us.  It  remains  for 
the  staff  to  watch  closely  the  line,  cheer  and  encourage  the  men, 
look  out  for  a  moment  of  panic,  and  so  keep  all  to  their  duty. 

"And  hold  it  they  do,  inflexibly.  For  half  an  hour  against 
this  barrier  of  Northern  patriotism  dashes  wave  after  wave  of 
Southern  treason,  to  be  again  and  again  hurled  back,  broken  and 
discomfited.  Individual  instances  of  valor  are ,  not  wanting ;  the 
color  bearer  of  the  y6th  New  York  rashly  leaps  out  to  the  front, 
waves  his  flag,  exclaiming,  '  There,  boys,  come  up  to  that !  '  and 
falls  on  the  instant,  shot  through  the  head.  But  why  attempt  to 
designate,  where  all  did  so  well  ?  At  intervals  a  lull,  a  mere 
pattering  of  musketry,  and  then  the  rebel  storm  bursts  forth  afresh, 
and  before  it  some  of  our  men  go  down,  or  slowly  fall  back,  wounded 
and  bleeding,  to  the  rear.  The  twilight  gloom  is  descending, 
throwing  the  rebel  den  into  shadow ;  the  darkness  adds  new  horror 
to  the  scene  ;  and  suddenly  a  portion  of  one  of  our  regiments  begins 
to  crowd  up  together,  the  men  pressing  against  each  other,  and 
firing  into  the  air  in  a  sort  of  frenzy.  Terribly  contagious  is  a  panic 
like  this.  Unless  it  be  instantly  quelled,  the  men  will  be  shooting 
each  other,  or  rushing  to  the  rear  in  sudden  and  disastrous  rout. 
Somehow  and  swiftly,  military  authority  must  assert  itself.  The 
first  thing  to  do  is  to  order  them  to  cease  firing.  To  shout  forth 
such  an  order  at  such  a  time  would  be  like  attempting  to  drown  the 
thunder  of  Niargara.  It  must  be  driven  in,  as  it  were,  individually, 
mouth  and  ear,  and  almost  with  the  point  of  the  sword.  Somehow 
the  effort  succeeds  ;  discipline  asserts  itself,  the  rank  is  re-formed, 
our  brave  boys  are  themselves  again. 

"  Before  the  fight  is  half  over  an  aid  gallops  up  with  the  news 
that  the  gallant  General  Hatch,  the  division  commander,  is  severely 
wounded,  and  our  General  is  thus  in  command  of  the  division.  Our 
only  Colonel  has  already  been  crippled  by  a  wound,  a  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  takes  command  of  our  brigade,  while  a  Captain  finds 
himself  at  the  head  of  a  regiment.  Our  first  brigade  is  in  the  rear, 
having  exhausted  its  ammunition;  our  third  brigade  holds  the  line 
on  our  right ;  our  fourth  is  on  duty  perhaps  a  mile  away  on  our 
left.  Our  General,  therefore,  remains  with  his  own  brigade  as  the 
most  central  position. 

"And  now  there  are  intervals  of  comparative  calm,  and  we 
begin  to  congratulate  ourselves  that  the  baffled  enemy  has  departed. 
But  the  contest  is  not  yet  over ;  for  suddenly  out  of  the  darkness  in 


284  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

front  of  us  leaps  another  volley,  wounding  hardly  a  man,  but  so 
near  as  to  seem  in  our  very  faces.  Along  the  files  of  perhaps  a 
single  company,  gradually  growing  louded  and  louder,  rises  a  low 
murmur,  not  an  exultant  cheer,  but  rather  a  cry,  excited  and  panic 
stricken,  and  suddenly  half  a  dozen  or  more  start  off  for  the  rear. 
One  minute  more,  and  probably  the  whole  regiment  will  be  on  the 
wing.  To  meet  them  on  the  instant  with  the  threat  to  run  the  first 
man  through  who  moves  a  foot  farther  to  the  rear  seems  the  best 
thing  to  do,  and  it  proves  entirely  successful.  A  staff  officer 
exclaims,  '  Why,  boys,  what  are  you  running  for  ?  we've  beaten  the 
enemy.  Three  cheers  for  victory.'  A  wild,  irregular  cheer  bursts 
forth  upon  the  evening  air,  and  every  man  of  them  once  more  takes 
his  position  at  the  fence. 

"  It  is  indeed  true  that  we  have  beaten  the  enemy ;  these 
impetuous  attacks  are  only  his  last  flurries  ;  he  is,  though  we  do 
not  know  it,  and  cannot  discover  it  in  the  darkness,  at  his  last  gasp. 
It  is  now  so  dark  that  our  men  can  only  aim  at  the  flashing  of  the 
rebel  muskets,  and  these  rebel  muskets  have  ceased  firing.  The 
General  now  orders  our  brigade  also  to  cease  firing ;  an  andvance 
into  the  unknown  locality  in  front  would  be  sheer  madness,  and  so 
our  men  stand  silently  and  grimly  at  the  fence,  while  for  several 
minutes  as  it  seemed,  hardly  a  single  report  breaks  the  stillness 
of  the  night.  Just  as  we  are  saying  to  each  other  with  thankful 
hearts,  '  This  fight  is  over,'  the  enemy,  thinking,  perhaps,  that  we 
may  have  fallen  back,  or  are  unprepared  for  him,  charges 
desperately  up  towards  the  fence,  delivers  a  volley,  too  high,  as 
usual,  which  shrieks  through  the  air,  followed  by  a  continuous  fire 
for  a  minute,  or  two  minutes  perhaps,  though  it  seemed  very  much 
more.  It  is  no  use  ;  they  hurl  themselves  against  this  living  barrier 
in  vain,  and  are  soon  compelled  to  fall  back  before  the  terrific  volleys 
of  our  men.  To  me  this  is  the  most  impressive  incident  in  the 
fight;  the  utter  stillness  of  the  night,  broken  in  upon  by  the  cheers 
and  yells  of  the  opposing  troops  ;  the  rattle  of  musketry  discharged, 
and  the  wailing  of  the  bullets,  followed  by  a  stillness  deep  and 
intense,  as  if  each  party  held  its  breath  to  listen  for  the  next  move 
of  its  enemy. 

"The  contest  is  nearly  over;  only  a  few  scattering  volleys 
after  this,  except  on  the  left  of  our  brigade,  where  a  desperate  effort 
is  made  to  turn  our  left  flank,  to  meet  which  the  yth  Indiana  and 
y6th  New  York  swing  a  little  to  the  left,  and  so  repulse  the  attack 
successfully.  Our  division  is  now  relieved  by  the  division  of 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  285 

General  Ricketts,  which  moves  up  and  takes  post  at  the  fence,  the 
officers  dressing  the  ranks  as  if  preparing  for  a  review;  it  is  evident 
that  the  position  is  in  safe  hands  ;  but  our  General  orders  our 
brigade  to  lie  down  on  their  arms  a  hundred  feet  from  the  fence,  as 
we  have  still  some  ammunition  left,  and  a  night  attack  seems 
probable.  A  few  more  scattering  volleys,  and  at  this  particular 
point  all  is  still. 

"General  Patrick's  brigade*  having  done  its  work  nobly,  is 
now  resting  on  our  right,  while  on  our  left,  but  near  the  turnpike, 
the  brigade  of  Gibbon  is  still  fighting  very  desperately.  Our  own 
contest  appears  to  be  over  for  the  present,  but  we  listen  to  the 
unceasing  rattle  of  the  musketry  on  our  left  with  great  anxiety.  At 
one  moment  it  seems  as  if  our  troops  must  be  falling  back,  at 
another  the  firing  sounds  farther  off,  as  if  they  were  gradually 
driving  the  enemy  from  the  hill.  The  excitement  of  our  own  fight 
is  over;  the  woods  are  now  so  dark  that  objects  ten  feet  distant  are 
undistinguishable,  and  the  thought  of  a  night  attack  upon  our 
exhausted  troops  fills  me  with  dread.  A  prisoner  just  brought  in 
informs  us  that  the  troops  in  Iront  are  chiefly  Virginians,  under 
command  of  General  Pickett,  and  that  General  Longstreet  himself 
had  been  here,  striving  in  every  way  to  encourage  the  men,  calling 
them  his  pets,  and  coaxing  and  imploring  them  to  their  work. 
Already  we  had  some  idea  of  the  success  of  his  efforts,  but  we  were 
to  see  it  more  fearfully  evidenced  when  daylight  disclosed  the  battle 
field  on  the  morrow." 


*  EXTRACT  FROM  REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  DOUBLEDAY. — While  the  main  attack  was 
going  on  at  the  fence  referred  to,  Colonel  Rogers,  with  his  own  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gates' 
regiments  —  the  Twentieth  and  Twenty-First  New  York  Volunteers,  of  Patrick's  brigade— rendered 
most  essential  service  by  advancing  his  right,  and  holding  a  fence  bounding  the  Northeast  side  of  the 
same  corn  field,  anticipating  the  enemy,  who  made  a  furious  rush  to  seize  this  fence,  but  were  driven 
back.  Colonel  Rogers  was  then  enabled  to  take  the  enemy  in  flank,  and  also  pick  off  their 
cannoniers,  and  silence  a  battery  which  was  on  their  right  and  behind  their  main  battery.  *  * 

I  desire  to  mention,  in  terms  of  just  commendation,  General  Patrick,  whose  long  experience 
and  cool  bravery  were  never  better  attested  ;  Colonel  Phelps,  commanding  Hatch's  brigade,  and 
Colonel  Wainwright  ami  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hoffman,  commanding  in  turn  my  own  brigade.  Their 
gallantry  and  good  conduct  did  much  toward  winning  the  victory. 

I  desire  to  mention,  also,  Captain  E.  P.  Halsted,  A.  A.  G.,  and  Lieutenant  B.  F.  Martin,  A. 
D.  C,  who  carried  my  orders  faithfully  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and  who  each  spent  several 
hours  in  the  night  in  the  difficult  and  dangerous  task  of  verifying  the  enemy's  position  ;  also.  Captain 
George  F.  Noyes,  C.  S.,  who  stood  upon  the  fence  during  the  hottest  of  the  fire  cheering  on  the 
men,  and  otherwise  rendering  me  valuable  assistance.  *  #  *  *  *  •.•:  •••:  * 

]  am,  Major,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  DOUBLEDAY, 
Brigadier  General  Volunteers,  Commanding  Division. 

MAJOR  JOSEPH  DICKINSON,  A.  A.  G. 


286 


CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


"  All  night,"  says  Colonel  Rogers,  "we  lay  by  the  side  of  the 
fence,  ready  to  renew  the  conflict  should  any  demonstrations  be 
made  on  our  front.  When  morning  broke  it  was  discovered  that 
the  rebels  had  retreated  during  the  night,  and  the  army  was  put  in 
motion  to  follow  them  up." 

Our  loss  in  this  stubborn  contest  for  the  possession  of  Turner's 
Gap,  was  three  hundred  and  twenty-eight  killed,  and  one  thousand 
four  hundred  and  sixty-three  wounded ;  a  large  proportion, 
considering  the  number  of  men  engaged  and  strength  of  our 
opponents,  yet  small  when  we  remember  the  severity  of  the  assailing 
fire,  and  the  storm  of  bullets  that  swept  our  line.  Our  own 
regiment  had  but  a  small  number  wounded,  one  mortally.  This  is 
accounted  for  in  the  fact  that  we  stood  mainly  upon  the  defensive, 
with  the  advantage  of  a  sheltered  position. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  .287 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


After  the  Battle. — the  Corn  Field. — On  the  move  again. — The   Battle  of  Antietam. — Our  killed  and 
wounded. — Burying  the  Dead. — Captain  Noyes'  description  of  the  Field. 


THE  great  battle  of  Antietam,  fought  near  Sharpsburg,  Md., 
September  i6th  and  lyth,  1862,  has  been  so  often  and  ably 
described  that  I  must  content  myself  with  giving  but  the  general 
outline  of  a  battle  which  involved  so  momentous  a  result  to  the 
country,  so  interesting  in  its  every  detail,  and  which,  if  time  and 
space  permitted,  would  so  richly  repay  the  labor  of  collecting  all 
attainable  details,  in  order  to  give  the  fullest  possible  record  of  the 
part  taken  by  our  own  regiment  in  that  day's  trials  and  triumphs. 
To  do  this,  it  is  necessary  to  resume  the  process  of  gleaning  from 
sources  named  in  the  preceding  chapter. 

Captain  Noyes,  whose  presence  upon  the  same  part  of  the  field, 
identifies  his  admirably  written  story  with  our  own,  describes  the 
scenes  of  the  following  morning  in  a  manner  that  must  bring  them 
vividly  to  the  minds  of  all  wrho  were  so  fortunate  as  to  see  them. 
After  a  description  of  the  manner  in  which  himself  and  staff 
companions  had  passed  the  night,  how  they  were  up  in  the  first 
gray  of  the  morning,  to  find  our  line  still  lying  at  the  fence,  no  sign 
of  the  foe,  and  the  little  interval  before  the  corn  field  untenanted 
save  where  the  morning  mists  dimly  shrouded  the  prostrate  forms 
of  the  rebel  dead,  he  thus  proceeds: 

"  A  soldier  or  two  now  ventured  out  over  these  rockly  ledges. 
Suddenly,  from  behind  a  stump,  a  long,  lank  stripling  of,  perhaps, 
seventeen  years,  without  weapon,  and  dressed  in  the  usual  gray 
uniform,  leaped  eagerly  forward,  exclaiming,  '  Don't  shoot!  I'm 
your  prisoner  ! '  When  brought  before  the  General,  he  described, 
with  a  childlike  simplicity  very  amusing,  his  late  experience  and 
sensations.  The  boy  had  evidently  never  before  broken  loose  from 
the  maternal  apron  string,  and  told  us,  with  fearfuly  emphasis,  how 
he  bad  been  conscripted,  drilled,  and  finally  brought  up  this 
mountain  to  be  shot  at,  winding  up  somewhat  as  follows  :  '  I  told 


288  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

'em  I  was  a  coward,  and  couldn't  fight,  but  they  drove  me  up  here, 
where  I  came  near  being-  killed ;  so  I  dropped,  and  crawled  behind 
a  stump,  and  waited  there  all  night.'  But  he  didn't  know  whether 
the  enemy  was  still  in  the  corn  field  or  not,  so  we  learned  little  of 
any  value,  though  his  quaint  remarks  upon  his  own  cowardice 
afforded  some  merriment. 

"  No  one  had  yet  explored  the  corn  field,  and  a  large  body  of 
men  might  easily  be  concealed  there ;  but  half  a  dozen  of  our  men 
were  now  moving  among  the  rebel  dead,  and  I  was  convinced  that 
it  was  safe  enough  to  go  out  also,  being  thereunto  moved  by  a 
desire  to  see  some  of  our  late  antagonists.  So  closely  had  their 
desperate  charges  brought  them  to  our  line,  that  only  ten  paces 
distant  from  the  fence  lay  some  of  the  poor  fellows — one  resting 
with  head  on  arm,  as  if  asleep,  others  lying  across  each  other,  but 
most  of  them  looking  with  calmly  staring  eyes  up  towards  heaven. 
Among  them,  as  also  among  our  own  dead,  I  was  surprised  to  notice 
that  the  features  bore  usually  a  placid  expression,  with  little  trace 
of  battle  excitement  or  death  agony. 

"Among  the  foremost  lay  an  officer,  afterward  identified  as 
Colonel  Strange,  of  Virginia,  evidently  killed  just  at  the  moment 
when,  every  nerve  at  its  highest  tension,  every  courageous  impulse 
at  fever  heat,  he  was  leading  his  men  in  a  most  desperate  charge. 
Upon  his  stern  determined  face  still  lingers  that  look  of  battle,  his 
right  hand  still  grasping  his  sword.  This  man's  death  was  evidently 
a  great  loss  to  the  enemy. 

"  A  few  feet  to  his  left  I  noticed  another  young  officer,  and  still 
farther  on  a  young  lieutenant,  whose  very  handsome  face  and  placid 
expression  greatly  attracted  me.  As  I  stood  and  looked  down 
earnestly,  as  if,  perhaps,  J  might  read  in  that  countenance  some 
fragments  of  his  history,  I  felt  that  this  was  a  man  who  probably 
illustrated  some  of  the  best  features  of  the  Southern  character — a 
warm  hearted,  generous  fellow,  whom,  while  living,  I  could  have 
loved.  There  is  a  sad  gap  somewhere  caused  by  his  death ; 
perhaps,  the  plain  gold  ring  on  his  finger  might  give  us  the  key  to 
his  whole  life  story.  How  all  feeling  of  enmity  disappears  in 
presence  of  these  white  faces,  these  eyes  gazing  upward  so  fixedly 
in  the  gray  of  the  morning  hour  ! 

"  More  than  thirty  of  the  rebel  dead  were  lying  within  fifty  feet 
of  the  fence ;  I  did  not  visit  the  corn  field,  but  learned  that  here  also 
the  dead  were  very  numerous.  On  our  side  the  loss  was  much  less  ; 
but  here,  also,  the  men  were  busily  engaged  in  collecting  the  fallen, 


TWENTY- FIRST  REGIMENT.  289 

and  ranging  them  side  by  side,  each  regiment  or  brigade  by  itself 
that  their  own  immediate  comrades  might  lay  them  to  rest  with  the 
scant  ceremonial  of  a  soldier's  burial  on  the  battle  field.  No  little 
firing  squad  poured  forth  a  farewell  volley ;  no  minister  read  over 
their  graves  the  beautiful  burial  service ;  no  coffin  encased  their 
limbs  ;  just  as  they  were,  in  their  uniforms,  crimsoned  with  patriotic 
blood,  they  were  taken  closely  to  the  bosom  of  Earth  the  mother, 
and  on  the  very  summit  of  the  mountain,  in  a  spot  consecrated  by 
their  heroic  sacrifice,  and  glorious  as  the  classic  ground  of  victory, 
they  slept  well. 

"It  was  now  fairly  sunrise,  and  it  was  made  known  that  the 
enemy  had  retreated,  and  that  we  could  claim  an  unmistakable 
victory.  We  were  yet  to  learn  how  the  rebel  rout,  flinging  away 
their  guns,  had  fled  headlong  down  the  mountain,  or  dispersed 
through  its  forests  to  give  themselves  up  in  scores  as  prisoners 
of  war." 

Orders  now  arrived  for  the  division  to  move  on  across  the 
mountain  toward  Boonsborough ;  infantry  and  artillery,  and  the 
parked  wagon  trains  in  the  rear,  were  prepared  for  the  march,  the 
temporary  field  hospitals  were  abandoned,  and  our  wounded  were 
sent  back  to  Frederick  in  the  ambulances.  The  men  took  up  the 
march  in  excellent  spirits ;  the  joy  and  satisfaction  everywhere 
evident,  the  jokes  at  the  expense  of  the  enemy  flung  from  file  to  file, 
the  very  marching  of  the  men,  indicated  that  this  was  not  a  retreat, 
but  an  actual  pursuit  of  a  flying  enemy.  Volunteer  bayonets  not  only 
think,  but  they  talk  a  good  deal  also,  and  this  morning  they  were 
enjoying  full  license  in  this  direction.  '  My 

Maryland '  was  now  sung  by  our  men,  with  an  alteration  of  the 
words  to  suit  each  singer.  The  new  regiments  were  especially 
enthusiastic,  and  I  had  not  ridden  long  near  the  column  before  I 
found  my  own  spirits  rising  into  something  like  the  old  enthusiasm. 
There  is  no  army  ration,  after  all,  so  good  for  troops  as  an 
occasional  touch  of  victory. 

Our  column  reached  Boonsborough  some  time  during  the 
forenoon,  passing  on  to  the  neighborhood  of  Keadysville,  some  six 
miles  beyond,  where  it  bivouacked  for  the  night.  I  leave  Colonel 
Rogers  to  describe  our  part  in  the  ensuing  action,  interpolating 
whatever  else  I  can  collect  that  may  serve  to  complete  and  explain 
the  description : 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  i6th,  the  march   was  resumed,  and  in  a 
few  hours  we  reached  the  banks  of  the  Antietam.     The  enemy  were 


2QO  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

posted  on  the  other  side  and  made  a  stand,  and  a  battle  seemed 
imminent.  Our  batteries  were  planted  and  troops  placed  in 
position.  There  was  some  firing  during  the  day,  the  shells  of 
the  enemy  frequently  coming  in  uncomfortable  proximity. 

"  During  the  day  the  enemy  seemed  to  have  changed  its 
position.  In  the  afternoon  the  whole  army  was  put  in  motion, 
advancing  in  three  columns.  Our  regiment  was  at  the  head  of  the 
second  column,  the  heads  marching  in  parallel  lines.  The  battle 
was  opened  by  the  artillery  about  an  hour  before  dark.  Several  of 
the  shells  passed  directly  over  our  regiment  and  injured  soldiers 
immediately  in  our  rear.  But  we  had  become  accustomed  to  their 
music  and  they  did  not  disturb  us  much. 

"  Night  coming  on  we  filed  into  the  woods  and  lay  upon  our 
arms.  There  was  frequent  firing  between  the  pickets  during  night, 
and  before  daybreak  in  the  morning. 

THE    BATTLE    OF   ANTIETAM. 

"  We  were  up  with  the  dawn,  and  work  commenced  soon  after. 
Orders  were  received  for  us  to  move  forward  and  sustain  Gibbon's 
brigade,  which  was  already  engaged.  Marching  through  orchards 
and  over  fences,  we  reached  a  point  in  the  woods  through  which 
we  were  to  advance.  We  passed  General  Hooker,  who  was  here 
directing  the  movements  of  the  troops.  He  sent  one  of  his  aids  to 
point  out  the  position  for  us  to  occupy.  The  battle  had  fairly 
opened.  The  artillery  and  musketry  fire  was  rapid  and  continuous. 
Forward  we  went  through  the  woods,  out  into  the  open  field,  and 
we  were  face  to  face  with  the  enemy  on  a  fair  field.  With  bayonets 
fixed,  rapidly  we  charged  forward.  Two  fences  lined  the  turnpike 
road  in  our  front,  on  the  other  side  of  which  the  enemy  was  posted. 
We  reached  the  first  fence,  forced  them  back,  arid  scaling  that  and 
the  one  on  the  other  side,  continued  to  pour  deadly  fire  into  their 
ranks.  General  Patrick  at  this  time  rode  up  and  ordered  us  to  fall 
back  to  the  road,  as  our  line  was  in  advance  of  that  on  our  left,  and 
we  were  running  into  the  line  of  fire  of  our  own  artillery.  This  was 
done  in  good  order,  and  the  men  continued  to  load  and  fire  with  a 
coolness  that  was  admirable. 

"  Here  Captain  Robert  Gardner  and  Lieutenant  Hickey  were 
wounded,  and  many  of  the  men  were  killed  and  wounded.  All 
this  time  there  was  nothing  in  our  rear  to  support  us,  while  our 
right  flank  was  entirely  unprotected.  Had  the  rebels  known  our 
weakness  at  this  point,  and  pushed  forward  vigorously,  they 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  29! 

could  have  pierced  our  lines  and  carried  dismay  into  the  whole 
army." 

Lieutenant  Halsey  thus  describes  some  of  the  incidents  of  the 
battle,  which  occurred  at  about  this  time : 

"  In  leaping  the  fences  all  could  not  get  over  at  once — some 
must  be  last — and  in  falling  back  a  few,  finding  it  difficult  to  get 
over  in  time  to  avoid  the  clutch  of  the  enemy,  quietly  dropping 
to  the  ground  among  the  dead  and  wounded,  and  remained 
motionless  a  la  possum,  until  the  enemy  was  again  driven  back, 
when  they  jumped  to  their  feet  and  joined  their  comrades  in  the 
hot  chase. 

"  Lieutenant  Hickey,  prevented  by  a  ball  through  the  right 
arm  from  getting  over  the  fence  in  time,  dropped  to  the  ground  and 
was  taken  prisoner ;  but  the  enemy  had  no  time  to  attend  to  the 
particulars  of  a  parole,  for  they  were  again  driven  back,  and  Hickey, 
liberated,  made  his  way  to  the  rear  minus  side  arms,  which  a  rebel 
officer  had  taken  a  fancy  to  and  appropriated  to  his  own  use.  This 
trick  was  also  performed  by  some  of  the  enemy,  but,  after  the  second 
charge,  it  being  suspected,  they  were  trotted  out  for  examination 
and  marched  to  the  rear — some  being  suddenly  accommodating 
even  offered  to  carry  the  guns  of  the  men  who  captured  them,  but 
they  were  only  allowed  to  carry  the  knapsacks,  which  they  appeared 
to  do  willingly. 

"  During  one  of  these  charges,  or  just  after  we  had  fallen  back, 
a  stray  shot  struck  a  large  fat  pig  which  had  been  grunting  about 
in  rear  of  our  line,  apparently  indifferent  as  to  the  result  of  the  fight. 
One  of  our  boys  taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  having,  in  all 
this  excitement,  presence  of  mind  sufficient  to  feel  the  presence  of 
an  appetite,  resolved  that  '  his  porkship '  should  die  a  NATURAL 
death  ;  dropping  his  musket  he  rushes  to  the  spot  with  drawn 
sheath  knife  and  with  the  practical  hand  of  a  professional  butcher 
brings  the  lingering  sickness  of  Mr.  Pig  to  an  abrupt  termination. 
Rolling  him  into  a  ditch  '  to  await  further  developments,'  he  runs 
back  and  resumes  his  place  in  line." 

A  volume  of  such  incidents  might  be  collected,  and  would 
prove  by  no  means  the  least  interesting  of  our  war  record.  But  to 
proceed  with  Colonel  Rogers'  description : 

"  While  the  regiment  was  thus  gallantly  maintaining  its  position 
in  the  road,  a  rebel  regiment  was  observed  coming  from  the  woods 
on  our  right  and  rear,  and  in  a  line  at  right  angles  to  that  of  the 
road.  They  had  completely  outflanked  us.  The  Colonel  imme- 


2Q2  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

diately  gave  the  order  to  '  disperse,'  and  rally  on  the  colors  in  the 
woods  from  which  we  advanced.  The  boys  were  not  slow  in  obey 
ing  the  order,  and  make  excellent  time  in  executing  it. 

"  Rallying  in  the  woods  we  took  position  behind  a  fence  facing 
the  direction  in  which  we  expected  the  foe,  but  they  did  not 
advance.  The  musketry  ceased,  but  the  artillery  fire  continued  as 
violent  as  ever.  In  our  present  position  we  were  under  the  fire  of 
both  parties — their  shells  passing  over  our  heads.  Here,  the  boys 
taking  advantage  of  the  lull  in  the  storm,  built  fires  and  made  their 
coffee,  having  been  thus  far  at  work  without  breaking  their  fast. 

"  An  officer  of  a  battery  in  our  rear  noticed  the  proceedings  of 
the  men  under  these  circumstances,  and  remarked  that  it  was  about 
the  coolest  thing  he  had  seen  during  the  war. 

"  In  a  short  time  the  reserves  began  to  arrive  and  file  past  us 
into  the  woods.  Some  of  them  were  new  troops,  and  when  they 
had  taken  their  position,  our  brigade  was  ordered  up  to  support 
them.  We  advanced  again  over  a  portion  of  the  same  ground  over 
which  we  had  previously  marched.  The  troops  on  our  right 
became  actively  engaged,  but  in  a  short  time  were  forced  back  in 
utter  confusion.  We  endeavored  in  vain  to  rally  them,  and  they  all 
fell  back  closely  followed  by  the  enemy,  whom  we  saluted  with  a 
scattering  fire.  The  General,  finding  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
maintain  his  position  against  the  overwhelming  force  that  was 
approaching,  and  our  ammunition  being  exhausted,  ordered  us  to 
retire,  which  was  done  in  excellent  order.* 


*  At  our  request,  Mrs.  Colonel  Rogers  has  kindly  put  into  our  hands  a  brief  letter  written  by 
her  husband  on  the  battle  field  of  Antietam.  We  make  an  extract. 

"  We  have  had  another  severe,  aye,  terrible  battle  to-day — the  third  general  engagement  in 
which  we  have  taken  part.  Our  loss  is  severe  again.  The  ground  has  been  stubbornly  contested, 
but  from  present  appearances,  I  think  we  shall  be  victorious.  It  is  now  3:20  P.  M.,  and  the  battle 
has  been  raging  furiously  since  daylight.  As  usual,  we  had  to  open  it.  We  are  now  in  the  rear, 
resting  and  refreshing  ourselves,  as  we  went  in  before  breakfast. 

*  "  Give  thanks    to    God   for   my   preservation,  for   it  does   indeed    seem 

providential.     It  is  probable  we  shall  follow  them  up  and  have  another  battle,  or  series  of  battles, 
until  we  drive  the  rebels  out  of  Maryland. 

"  For  a  while  matters  looked  very  bad  for  us.  Some  of  the  new  troops  broke  up  badly  and 
run  from  the  field,  and  we  were  forced  to  retire  until  re-enforcements  arrived  and  drove  them  back. 
We  retired  and  advanced  twice.  The  regiment  behaved  nobly,  but  our  loss  is  severe." 

Jimmy,  the  Post  Boy  of  the  Regiment,  also  writes  a  few  lines  at  the  same  time.     He  says  : 

"  General  McClellan,  with  General  Sumner  and  other  officers,  have  just  come  through  among 
the  boys,  who,  on  seeing  him,  rose  up  en  masse  and  gave  three  rousing  cheers  for  '  Little  Mac.' 
He,  in  return,  took  off  his  cap  and  waived  it,  bowing  also  to  the  boys.  Our  boys  then  waived  a 
rebel  flag  which  they  captured  from  a  Texas  Regiment.  Our  division  captured  fifteen  rebel  colors. 
As  soon  as  the  rebel  flag  was  raised,  the  boys  gave  three  groans  for  it.  No  sooner  had  the  groans 
been  given  than  the  rebels  opened  on  us  again  with  grape,  shell  and  solid  shot.  Our  brigade  then 
.rallied  around  the  battery  which  they  were  supporting,  and  there  they  were  when  I  left  them  to 
come  to  the  Hospital.  The  Chaplain  is  here  attending  to  the  wounded." — Buffalo  Courier,  Sept.  24. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  293 

"  Smith's  division  afterwards  came  up,  went  in  and  covered  the 
ground  here  lost.  I  learned  that  the  49th  behaved  gallantly  under 
Lieut.  Colonel  Alberger,  who,  I  regret  to  hear,  was  seriously 
wounded. 

"  The  battle  closed  by  common  consent,  after  night  fairly  set 
it.  It  was  a  hard  fought  and  stubbornly  contested  field.  The 
enemy  retiring  during  the  next  day  and  night  left  us  masters  of  the 
dark  and  bloody  ground.  This  only  gave  us  the  victory,  although  I 
have  no  doubt  their  loss  in  killed  was  thrice  that  of  ours. 

"  On  the  march  and  on  the  battle  field,  the  appearance  of  Gen. 
McClellan  created  the  wildest  enthusiasm  among  the  troops.  The 
more  his  defamers  cry  out  against  him,  the  more  the  troops  respect 
and  love  him.  They  believe  in  him,  and  the  simple  fact  that  he  is 
on  the  field  during  a  battle  is  evidence  that  all  is  going  on  well. 

"  Our  lines  rested  undisturbed  until  Friday  morning,  when 
marching  over  the  battle  field  we  bivouacked  in  our  present  position. 
God  grant  that  I  never  may  be  permitted  to  witness  another  such  a 
scene.  I  dare  not  attempt  a  description,  and  the  very  remembrance 
of  it  makes  me  shudder.  A  man  may  go  into  battle  and  deal  death 
and  destruction  around  him  with  all  the  coolness  imaginable,  but 
the  terrible  after-scene  cannot  fail  to  make  an  impression  that  can 
never  be  effaced  from  his  memory." 

The  following  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Battles  of 
South  Mountain  and  Antietam,  is  from  a  report  made  at  that  time 
by  Adjutant  C.  W.  Sternberg  : 

Battle  of  South  Mountain,  Sept.  14,  1862. 

Private  Christian  Ihda,  Company  "I,"  mortally  wounded;  Sergeant  Alvin 
Boyd,  Company  "I,"  hip,  severe;  private  Charles  Carpenter,  Company  "  H,"  right 
arm;  Joseph  Remick,  Company  "  K,"  head,  slight. 

Battle  of  Antietam,  Sept.  77,  1862. 

Captain  R.  P.  Gardner,  left  fore-arm,  severe;  Lieutenant  Levi  Yallier,  head ; 
Lieutenant  Patrick  Hickey,  right  arm,  severe. 

COMPANY  "A." — Corporal  Simeon  King,  killed;  private  Charles  E.  Sprague, 
killed;  private  Henry  Zink,  killed;  private  Charles  K.  Burdick,  killed;  private 
Frank  Schvveigle,  severely  wounded  and  missing,  probably  dead;  Corporal  James 
Crudden,  right  arm,  afterward  discharged ;  private  Peter  Bieber,  right  arm,  disabled 
and  discharged;  private  James  Brown,  right  leg;  private  Henry  F.  Dupont,  right 
shoulder;  private  John  Heyes,  breast;  private  John  Lawrence,  left  hand;  private 
John  Pax,  right  leg;  private  Joseph  Simm,  left  leg;  private  John  Schmidt,  left  arm; 
private  James  C.  Ten  Broeck,  left  breast,  disabled  and  discharged. 

COMPANY  "  B." — Private   Charles   E.  Johnson,  hip  ,  mortal;   Sergeant  Joshua 


294  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

G.  Towne,  leg,  severe;   private  Newman  U.  Goodrich,  thigh;  private   Benjamin  J. 
Parker,  head. 

COMPANY  "  C." — 1st  Sergeant  George  T.  Cook,  side,  severe;  Corporal  George 
M.  JBasseett,  forehead;  private  Francis  A.  Valentine,  leg,  severe;  private  William 
H.  Boorman,  breast;  private  Charles  Peterson,  neck ;  private  Andrew  Miller,  right 
thigh  ;  private  John  Raleigh,  instep. 

COMPANY  "  D." — Private  Michael  J.  Coan,  killed;  private  William  Shoop, 
abdomen,  mortal;  private  Henry  C.  Bronner,  left  knee,  severe;  private  Ira  J.  Sheldon, 
hand  and  abdomen,  mortal;  private  Benjamin  Hemstreet,  left  arm;  private  Frank 
H.  Pierce,  left  shoulder  and  leg,  severe;  private  Alfred  Spencer,  left  arm;  private 
Edward  Vickery,  left  shoulder. — leaving  but  nine  sound  men  in  the  company. 

COMPANY  "  E." — Corporal  George  W.  Proctor,  side,  mortal;  private  Wilder 
Vantine,  right  side,  mortal ;  private  Charles  Bertch,  killed  ;  private  Edward  Manning, 
right  arm,  amputated;  private  Charles  F.  Mercer,  thigh;  private  Henry  Miller,  thigh, 
disabled  and  discharged;  private  William  Wisser,  head,  disabled  and  discharged; 
private  James  Millham,  lost  right  hand,  discharged ;  private  Christian  Ziehm,  body 
and  leg,  severe. 

COMPANY  "F." — Private  John  Wolk,  killed;  Sergeant  William  Rankin,  right 
hand;  private  William  H.  Sprague,  arm;  private  Horace  Tones,  leg;  private  Franklin 
Averill,  shoulder;  private  Charles  Gross,  missing. 

COMPANY  "G." — Corporal  James  H.  Blake,  killed;  Corporal  Thomas  A. 
Curran,  killed;  private  Matthew  Carson,  killed;  private  Elois  Bader,  wounded  in  leg; 
private  Joseph  Beckerich,  leg;  private  Henry  H.  Kinsky,  leg;  private  William  Crapo, 
thigh;  private  Henry  Fick,  leg;  Sergeant  John  Williamson,  side,  severe. 

COMPANY  "  H." — Private  Charles  Morgan,  side;  mortal;  Sergeant  James 
Bailey,  neck;  private  Balsor  Snyder,  left  shoulder;  private  Frank  Huber,  face,  severe; 
private  John  Kock,  lost  left  arm,  discharged. 

COMPANY  "I." — Corporal  Justin  Lasson,  thigh ;  private  Charles  Bohm,  arm, 
disabled  and  discharged;  private  Charles  Connolly,  knee;  private  Jacob  Junck,  foot; 
private  Frank  Knopf,  shoulder;  private  John  Jepson,  unknown. 

COMPANY  "  K." — Sergeant  John  C.  Pratt,  left  leg,  severe. 

Our  regiment  lay  all  night,  drawn  up  with  the  brigade,  behind 
a  line  of  batteries,  just  in  rear  of  the  scene  of  our  struggle.  Small 
indeed,  a  mere  handful  of  worn  and  bloody  men,  was  the  remnant 
of  the  once  goodly  line  that  now  flanked  the  battle  scarred  flag. 
But  one  captain  left,  some  of  the  companies  under  command  of 
sergeants  and  corporals,  well  might  they  look  forward  anxiously  to 
the  expected  renewal  of  conflict  on  the  morrow,  and  fear  annihilation 
for  the  remainder.  Some  of  the  companies  were  reduced  to  eight 
and  ten  men,  and  the  average  would  not  have  exceeded  twelve  for 
duty.  Back  at  bloody  Bull  Run,  among  the  hospitals  on  both  sides 
of  the  Potomac,  upon  the  mountain  top  yonder,  and  lying  in  their 
yet  warm  blood  upon  this  last  field  of  sacrifice,  we  might  look  for 
them  or  for  their  graves. 

Anxiously,  and  bringing  little  rest,  passed  the  night.     I  warrant 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  295 

me  that  many  tears  were  shed  in  the  solemn  stillness  of  that  night, 
for  comrades  who  should  march  no  more.  Who  could  help  feeling-, 
even  in  sleep,  the  void  left  by  the  great  gaps  in  our  line,  where  once 
stood  many  a  noble  fellow,  hardly  known  for  one  so  dear  until  he 
dropped  behind  to  his  long  rest. 

Long  before  the  dawn  all  but  the  wounded  were  stirring ;  each 
man  made  his  coffee  and  prepared  his  simple  morning  meal,  so  that 
he  might  be  ready  for  the  expected  call.  The  feeling  seemed  to 
possess  every  heart,  that  this  day  was  to  be  crowned  with  victory ; 
the  whole  tone  of  conversation,  as  we  drank  our  coffee  on  the  grass, 
was  hopeful,  nay,  almost  exultant ;  the  hour  for  crushing  the  rebellion 
seemed  to  have  struck ;  the  opportunity  had  come  to  drive  the 
rebels  into  the  Potomac,  or  capture  their  entire  army.  The  natural 
dread  of  battle  seemed  to  be  lost  in  the  hopeful  feeling  that  the 
result  of  this  day's  dangers  might  be  the  ending  of  the  war  and  our 
return  to  our  homes  and  families. 

But  those  of  us  who  indulged  in  such  anticpations  as  these  were 
doomed  to  disappointment.  How  near  they  might  have  approached 
realization,  had  all  the  good  fortune  our  brave  little  army  deserved 
fallen  to  its  share,  none  can  with  certainty  decide.  There  are  many 
who  could  not  and  can  not  be  made  to  see  the  possible  limitation  of 
circumstance  and  success,  beyond  the  power  of  any  man  to  foresee 
or  overcome.  At  this  distance  of  time  the  vague  hopes  of  that 
period  seem  almost  absurd,  as  fully  if  not  so  painfully  so  as  those 
which  agitated  the  people  in  those  hopeful  months  preceding  the 
first  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  while  they  had  not  yet  so  much  as  an  inkling 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking  upon  which  the  loyal  arm  of 
the  nation  was  rising. 

The  sun  rose,  hour  after  hour  passed  by,  and  still  to  our 
expectant  ears  came  no  order  to  advance.  No  grumbling  of  distant 
cannon,  no  rattle  of  musketry  in  front,  no  sudden  bugle  call  to  stir 
the  scene  into  one  of  hurrying  life.  Upon  the  field  moved  only  the 
burying  parties  of  our  own  and  the  rebel  armies,  and  we  learned 
that  a  flag  of  truce  had  sought  for  them  the  privilege  of  sharing 
this  duty  with  us.  Their  army  must  be  near ;  why  do  we  not  move? 
Our  own  worn  frames  can  give  us  answer,  if  the  question  relate  only 
to  our  convenience ;  but  there  must  be  a  better,  since  hard  exper 
ience  hath  taught  us  that  generals  do  not  consult  the  comfort,  and 
sometimes  ignore  even  the  necessities,  of  their  men,  when  a  great 
issue  lies  trembling  in  the  balance. 

Thus  the  day  passed.     Its  principal  event  to  us  was  the  arrival 


296  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

of  some  thousands  of  "Minute  Men,"  and  militia,  from  our  sister 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  Most  of  the  burial  parties  were  afterward 
detailed  from  these  troops,  and  they  must  have  seen  enough  of  this 
most  repulsive  of  the  soldiers'  duties,  to  sicken  them  of  war  forever. 

Next  morning-,  September  igth,  our  boys  were  astir  again  long 
before  sunrise,  again  prepared  for  battle,  and  again  were  disap 
pointed.  During  the  morning  they  learned  that  the  rebel  army  had 
disappeared  from  our  front,  and  re-crossed  the  Potomac.  The 
river,  lately  in  their  rear,  and  forming  one  side  of  the  angle  into 
which  we  had  driven  them,  was  now  their  best  defence  against  us. 
Still,  let  us  not  say  that  the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam 
were  robbed  of  any  decisive  significance.  The  invader  had  been 
turned  back  and  his  departure  hurried  with  fearful  blows.  When 
it  is  asked  why  we  did  not  annihilate  him,  it  is  necessary  to  ask  in 
return,  was  it  possible  to  do  so  ?  Had  we  not  bought  with  fearful 
cost  the  knowledge  of  these  men's  power  and  will  to  oppose  us  ? 
Let  us  not  look  merely  upon  that  which  might  have  resulted  from 
their  possible  destruction,  but  consider  what  defeat  would  have 
been  to  us. 

Our  division  now  moved  forward  about  two  miles  across  the 
field  and  encamped,  our  own  chosen  spot  being  a  pleasant  wood. 
The  march  across  the  field  was  through  scenes  that  might  have 
added  a  new  horror  to  the  inferno.  Let  Captain  Noyes  thus 
describe  it :  "  Within  a  space  of  more  than  a  mile  square,  this  spot, 
once  beautiful  with  handsome  residences  and  well  cultivated  farms, 
isolated,  hedged  in  with  verdure,  sacred  to  quiet,  calm,  content,  the 
hottest  fury  of  man's  hottest  wrath  had  expended  itself,  burning 
residences  and  well  filled  barns,  plowing  fields  of  ripened  grain  with 
artillery,  scattering  everywhere  through  corn  field,  wood  and  valley, 
the  most  awful  illustrations  of  war.  Not  a  building  about  us  which 
was  not  deserted  by  its  occupants,  and  rent  and  torn  by  shot  and 
shell ;  not  a  field  which  had  not  witnessed  the  fierce  and  bloody 
encounter  of  armed  and  desperate  men. 

"  Let  us  first  turn  off  to  the  left  of  the  Hagerstown  turnpike; 
but  we  must  ride  very  slowly  and  carefully,  for  lying  all  through 
this  corn  field  are  the  victims  of  the  hardest  contest  of  our  division. 
Can  it  be  that  these  are  the  bodies  of  our  late  antagonists  ?  Their 
faces  are  so  absolutely  black  that  I  said  to  myself  at  first,  this  must 
have  been  a  negro  regiment.  Their  eyes  are  protruding  from  the 
sockets;  their  heads,  hands,  and  limbs  are  swollen  to  twice  their 
natural  size.  Ah  !  there  is  little  left  to  awaken  our  sympathy,  for 


TWENTY- FIRST     REGIMENT.  297 

all  those  vestiges  of  our  common  humanity  which  touch  the 
sympathetic  chord  are  now  quite  blotted  out.  These  defaced  and 
broken  caskets,  emptied  of  all  that  made  them  manlike,  human,  are 
repulsive  merely.  Naught  remains  but  to  lay  them  away  quietly, 
where  what  is  now  repulsive  shall  be  resolved  into  its  original 
elements,  shall  be  for  a  time 

'  Brother  to  the  insensate  clod, 
Which  the  rude  swain  turns  with  his  share, 
And  treads  upon,' 

and  shall  appear  in  new  forms  of  life  hereafter. 

"  Passing  through  this  corn  field,  with  the  dead  lying  all 
through  its  aisles,  out  into  an  uncultivated  field  beyond,  I  saw 
bodies,  attired  mainly  in  rebel  gray,  lying  in  ranks  so  regular,  that 
Death  the  Reaper  must  have  mowed  them  down  in  swaths.  Our 
burying  parties  were  already  busily  engaged,  and  had  put  away 
to  rest  many  of  our  own  men ;  still  here  as  everywhere  I  saw  them 
scattered  over  the  fields.  The  ground  was  strewn  with  muskets, 
knapsacks,  cartridge  boxes,  and  articles  of  clothing,  with  the 
carcasses  of  horses,  and  with  thousands  of  shot  and  shell.  And  so 
it  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  turnpike,  nay,  in  the  turnpike  itself; 
ride  where  we  may,  through  corn  field,  wood,  or  ravine,  and  our 
ride  will  be  among  the  dead,  until  the  heart  grows  sick  and  faint 
with  horror.  Here  close  to  the  road,  were  the  hay  stacks  near 
which  our  general  and  staff  paused  for  a  while  when  the  division 
was  farthest  advanced,  and  here,  at  the  corner  of  the  barn,  lay  one 
of  our  men,  killed  by  a  shell,  which  had  well  nigh  proved  fatal  to 
them  also. 

"Just  in  front  of  these  hay  stacks  was  the  only  pleasing  picture 
on  this  battle  field — a  fine  horse  struck  with  death  at  the  instant 
when,  cut  down  by  his  wound  he  was  attempting  to  rise  from  the 
ground.  His  head  was  half  lifted,  his  neck  proudly  arched,  every 
muscle  seemed  replete  with  animal  life.  The  wound  which  killed 
him  was  wholly  concealed  from  view,  so  that  I  had  to  ride  closely 
up  before  I  could  believe  him  dead.  Hundreds  of  his  kind  lay 
upon  the  field,  but  all  were  repulsive  save  himself,  and  he  was  the 
admired  of  every  passer  by.  Two  weeks  afterward  I  found  myself 
stopping  to  gaze  upon  him,  and  always  with  the  wish  that  some 
sculptor  would  immortalize  in  stone  this  magnificent  animal  in  the 
exact  pose  of  his  death  hour.  One  would  like  to  see  something 
from  a  battle  field  not  wholly  terrible. 


298  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

"  Over  this  grave  yard  of  the  unburied  dead  we  reached  a 
wood,  every  tree  pierced  with  shot  or  cut  \vith  bullets,  and  came 
to  the  little  brick  church  on  the  turnpike.  This  must  have  been  a 
focal  point  in  the  battle,  for  a  hundred  round  shot  have  pierced  its 
walls,  while  bullets  by  thousands  have  scarred  and  battered  it.  A 
little  crowd  of  soldiers  were  standing  about  it,  and  within,  a  few 
severely  wounded  rebels  were  stretched  on  the  benches,  one  of  whom 
was  raving  in  his  agony.  Surgical  aid  and  proper  attendance  had 
already  been  furnished,  and  we  did  not  join  the  throng  of  curious 
visitors  within.  Out  in  the  grove  behind  the  little  church  the  dead 
had  already  been  collected  in  groups  ready  for  burial,  some  of  them 
wearing  our  own  uniform,  but  the  large  majority  dressed  in  gray. 
No  matter  in  which  direction  we  turned,  it  was  all  the  same  shock 
ing  picture,  awakening  awe  rather  than  pity,  benumbing  the  senses 
rather  than  touching  the  heart,  glazing  the  eye  with  horror,  rather 
than  filling  it  with  tears. 

"  I  had,  however,  seen  many  a  poor  fellow  during  my  ride, 
something  in  whose  appearance  or  position  had  caused  me  to  pause, 
and  here  lying  side  by  side  with  three  others,  I  saw  a  young  rebel 
officer,  his  face  less  discolored  than  the  rest,  whose  features  and 
expression  called  forth  my  earnest  sympathy,  not  so  much  for  him 
as  for  those  in  his  Southern  home  who  shall  see  him  no  more 
forever.  No  one  knew  his  name  among  the  burying  party,  and 
before  night  he  was  laid  in  a  trench  with  the  rest,  with  no  headstone 
to  mark  his  resting  place,  one  of  the  three  thousand  rebel  dead  who 
fill  numberless  graves  upon  the  battle  field.  So  ends  the  brief  mad 
ness  which  sent  him  hither  to  fight  against  a  government  he  knew 
only  by  its  blessings — against  his  Northern  brothers,  who  never 
desired  to  encroach  upon  a  single  right  or  institution  of  his — who 
were  willing  that  he  should  hug  to  his  breast  forever  the  Nessus 
shirt  of  slavery,  asking  only  that  he  did  not  insist  upon  forcing  its 
poison  folds  over  their  shoulders  also.  So  disappears  the  beloved 
of  some  sad  hearts,  another  victim  of  that  implacable  Nemesis  who 
thus  avenges  upon  the  white  man  the  wrongs  of  the  black,  and 
smiles  with  horrid  satisfaction  as  this  fearful,  game  of  war  goes  on. 

"Very  slowly,  as  men  move  through  the  burial  places  of  the 
dead,  we  rode  through  these  woods  back  of  the  church,  and  reached 
the  rocky  citadel,  behind  which  crouched  the  enemy  to  receive  our 
charging  battalions,  sweeping  their  ranks  with  destruction,  and 
compelling  their  retreat.  I  was  astonished  to  see  how  cunningly 
nature  had  laid  up  this  long  series  of  ledges  breast  high  for  the 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  299 

protection  of  the  rebel  lines.  In  front  of  this  breast-work  we  found 
a  majority  of  the  dead  dressed  in  blue.  At  this  point  commenced 
also  the  long  barricade  of  fence  rails,  piled  so  closely  to  protect  the 
rebel  lines,  and  stretching  off  toward  the  North.  Here  is  one  more 
evidence  of  the  use  to  which  the  rebel  generals  put  every  spare 
moment  of  time,  and  of  their  admirable  choice  of  position. 

"  One  more  scene  in  this  battle  picture  must  be  seen,  and  with 
a  visit  to  this  our  ride  may  end.  It  is  a  narrow  country  lane, 
hollowed  out  somewhat  between  the  fields,  partially  shaded,  and 
now  literally  crowded  with  rebel  corpses.  Here  they  stood  in  line 
of  battle,  and  here,  in  the  length  of  five  hundred  feet,  I  counted 
more  than  two  hundred  of  their  dead.  In  every  attitude  conceiv 
able — some  piled  in  groups  of  five  or  six  ;  some  grasping  their 
muskets  as  if  in  the  act  of  discharging  them;  some,  evidently 
officers,  killed  while  encouraging  their  men ;  some  lying  in  the  position 
of  calm  repose,  all  black  and  swollen,  and  ghastly  with  wounds,  this 
battalion  of  dead  filled  the  lane  with  horror.  As  we  rode  beside  it 
— we  could  not  ride  in  it — I  saw  the  field  all  about  me  black  with 
corpses,  and  they  told  me  that  the  corn  field  beyond  was  equally 
crowded.  It  was  a  place  to  see  once,  to  glance  at,  and  then  ride 
hurriedly  away,  for,  strong-hearted  as  was  my  then  mood,  I  had 
gazed  upon  as  much  horror  as  I  was  able  to  bear. 

"  As  we  rode  back,  I  noticed  close  by  the  lane  several  trenches 
already  covered  in,  one  with  a  strip  of  wood  at  its  head  marked 
with  this  inscription:  'Colonel  Garland  and  eighty  dead  rebels.' 
Details  of  soldiers  from  the  various  regiments  were  collecting  their 
comrades,  bringing  in  the  bodies  on  fence  rails,  identifying  them, 
and  laying  each  in  his  own  separate  grave,  with  a  head  piece 
inscribed  with  his  name  and  regiment.  Of.  course  I  cannot 
personally  speak  with  positiveness  as  to  the  comparative  numbers  of 
the  dead  on  each  side,  but  from  my  own  observation,  and  the* 
opinion  of  old  experienced  officers,  our  late  foes  seemed  to  outnum 
ber  our  own  dead  in  the  proportion  of  four  to  one.  Two  days  of 
laborious  sepulture  will  be  necessary  before  they  are  hidden  away 
in  the  bosom  of  our  cherishing  mother ;  during  two  days  more  of 
sunlight  and  darkness,  of  hot  noon-tide  and  chilly  midnight,  must 
some  of  these  poor  mangled  forms  lie  here  untouched,  untended,  to 
be  hurried  by  stranger  hands  at  last  into  a  common  and  nameless 
grave.  Thank  God  that  to  the  former  occupants  of  these  defaced 
bodies,  now  dwellers  in  far  other  mansions,  the  fate  of  these  their 
former  habitations  is  no  longer  of  interest. 


300 


CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


"  Not  for  these  poor  shipwrecked  forms,  then,  need  we  reserve 
our  pity,  but  for  the  broken  circles  of  which  every  man  among  these 
unburied  thousands  formed  a  part— for  the  homes  through  the 
South  and  the  North  made  wretched  this  day  with  the  first  hints 
of  their  new  sorrow — for  the  widow,  the  orphan,  the  lover !  Oh 
war  !  war  !  war  !  " 


TWENTY -FIRST    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER     XVII. 


An  interval  of  quiet. — Letter  from  Chaplain  Robie. — Sabbath  Services. — General  Patrick  — The 
Hospitals  of  the  Potomac. — The  Sanitary  Commission. — More  Letters. — General  Patrick 
assigned  for  duty  at  Headquarters,  and  succeeded  by  General  Paul. — Preparations  to 
advance. 


THE  regiment  now  passed  a  month  in  almost  unbroken  rest; 
from  the  nineteenth  day  of  September  until  the  twentieth  of 
October,  moving  camp  but  once  during  that  time,  and  then  only  for 
a  mile  toward  the  Potomac.  This  interval  was  passed  by  our  men 
in  recovering  the  physical  outlay  of  the  severe  campaign  through 
which  they  had  passed,  and  preparing  for  another.  The  losses  and 
wear  of  clothing  and  equipments  too  had  to  be  made  good,  many 
were  in  rags,  and  nearly  barefooted,  and  the  hurry  and  hardship  of 
the  past  month  had  left  little  time  to  devote  to  that  cleanliness 
necessary  to  comfort.  Still  there  was  plenty  of  time  for  this  delay 
to  grow  irksome  to  many ;  the  question  was  often  asked,  "  why  do 
we  not  advance,"  and  that  element  of  critical  discussion  fostered  by 
our  free  institutions  in  the  mass  composing  our  strength,  found 
plentiful  exercise  upon  the  facts,  probabilities,  and  issues  of  the 
"situation,"  and  the  hour.  All  were  convinced  that  there  was  a 
"  hitch"  somewhere, — to  use  the  expressive  soldier  parlance  of  the 
times, — and  opinions  as  to  the  responsibility  to  which  it  might  be 
traced  were  diverse. 

The  sifting  and  re-sifting  of  the  events  of  that  time  have 
revealed  enough  to  confirm  the  opinions  of  the  people,  however 
various,  and  I  leave  the  question  here,  hoping  that  the  time  will 
speedily  come  when  the  truth,  the  unmistakable  truth  may  stand 
revealed ;  and  may  Omnipotent  vengeance  fall  speedily  upon  all  or 
any  who  could  trifle  with  lives  that  were  God's,  laid  down  for  the 
good  of  man,  and  in  His  keeping  now. 

The  following  is  a  letter  written  by  Chaplain  Robie  to  a  friend 
in  Buffalo,  under  date  of  Sunday,  September  2ist: 


302  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

DEAR  O. — We  still  rest  in  quiet  repose  in  a  delightful  wood  which  we  entered 
two  days  since.  You  may  be  assured,  too,  that  this  meets  with  our  perfect 
acquiescence  to-day.  The  regiment  needs  the  rest  of  weeks  to  recover  its  energies 
spent  in  the  terrible  conflicts  through  which  it  has  passed. 

Our  hour  of  Divine  Service  this  morning  was  peculiarly  impressive.  The 
whole  brigade  met  by  order  of  our  general,  and  all  of  the  chaplains  participated. 
General  Patrick,  as  usual,  was  the  star  of  the  occasion.  His  remarks  were  pointed, 
exceedingly  forceful,  and  never  did  soldiers  listen  with  more  attention.  We 
appointed  another  service  for  this  afternoon. 

Our  regiment  turned  out  en  massee,  and  how  impressive!  Nowhere  near  two 
hundred  were  in  attendance.  Where  were  our  braves  ?  Why  this  decimation  of 
one  of  the  finest  regiments  in  the  army  ?  Mind  passes  in  rapid  and  mournful 
retrospection  to  the  battle  field  !  Our  wounded  and  dead  are  many.  Some  have 
passed  from  us  never  to  be  effective  again,  while  others  will  only  be  awakened  by 
the  last  trump.  This  is  war,  the  great  breaker  of  hearts,  the  great  disrupter  of 
affections. 

I  have  no  particular  news  to  communicate,  only  that  wasted  powers  are  return 
ing,  and  the  boys  begin  to  feel  ready  for  another  fight. 

Tell  the  young  ladies  of  the  Central  School  that  the  old  flag  is  tattered  and 
torn,  being  pierced  with  nearly  fifty  shots.  It  is  still,  however,  our  reminder  of  the 
beauty  and  patriotism  of  the  Institution. 

Lieutenant  Beebee  returned  to  us  to-day,  looking  somewhat  improved.  Colonel 
Drew  is  expected  to-morrow. 

The  weather  is  changing.  One  of  the  best  prayer  meetings  of  my  life  was 
enjoyed  this  afternoon.  Affectionately,  R. 

The  Sabbath  services  mentioned  by  the  chaplain  were  indeed 
solemn,  and  left  a  lasting  impression  upon  the  minds  of  all  who  par 
ticipated.  Often  have  I  heard  the  scene  described  by  those  who 
have  returned,  in  recalling  the  experiences  of  those  days,  and  even 
the  most  thoughtless  and  those  least  given  to  reflection  upon  such 
themes,  those  who  seem  to  feel  a  sort  of  pride  in  their  hardihood, 
recall  and  dwell  with  awe  upon  the  solemnity  of  that  hour.  For 
the  first  time  since  that  evening  at  Camp  Rufus  King,  where  our 
unbroken  lines  gathered  at  sunset  around  the  oak  to  listen  to  the 
warning  words  of  our  good  old  general,  his  frosted  head  was  again 
bare  before  them ;  his  eye  filled  and  lip  quivered  as  he  looked 
round  on  the  little  group  spared  him  of  all  those  whom  he  so  loved. 
"  Where  are  your  comrades  ? "  said  he,  and  the  tears  trickled  down 
his  war-worn  face.  "Where  are  those  who  gathered  with  us  at 
Camp  Rufus  King?  What  did  I  tell  you  then?  How  many  of  you 
deserve  the  mercy  that  has  spared  you  to  this  day  ?  "  and  in  the 
silence  that  followed  how  many  wakened  consciences  quailed  before 
the  awful  earnestness  of  his  voice  and  manner. 

"  I  have  seen  your  comrades  go  down  in  battle  with  curses  on 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  303 

their  lips.  I  heard  one  man  say  '  G — d  d — n  my  soul,'  and  with 
these  words  he  was  struck  with  death.  Can  yon  tell  me  that  God 
did  not  damn  that  'man's  soul?  And  how  many  of  you  here  can 
say  that  you  have  not  deserved  to  die  as  he  did?  " 

Thus  he  begun,  and  then  urged  as  he  had  often  done  before, 
the  necessity  of  sure  preparation  for  that  end  which  any  hour  might 
bring  to  each  of  his  hearers.  He  had  awakened  their  slumbering 
fears,  but  he  did  not  harrow  them  without  mercy ;  again  he  plead 
as  only  one  whose  heart  bleeds  for  the  lost,  and  for  loved  ones 
still  in  dread  peril,  could  plead,  and  ere  he  ended  few  were  the 
dry  eyes,  let  us  hope  still  fewer  the  untouched  hearts  among  his 
hearers. 

The  days  following  have  left  but  small  record,  except  in  things 
of  general  interest.  Crowds  of  citizens  were  daily  arriving  to  seek 
in  the  hospitals  or  among  the  thousands  of  graves,  their  own  loved 
ones,  worn  and  desparing,  heart  sick,  with  failure,  or  hopeful  and 
exulting  at  their  success.  It  was  touching,  the  joy  even  with  which 
they  discovered  the  resting  places  of  those  they  mourned,  or  the 
hospital  cot  that  bore  some  mangled,  shattered  burden  dear  to 
them,  and  which  they  so  hopefully  undertook  to  nurse  back  to 
health  and  strength  sufficient  for  the  homeward  journey.  "  Hither 
came  the  father  or  the  brother  from  New  England  searching  for 
his  dead ;  here,  also,  the  distracted  wife  sought  out  the  grave  of 
her  devoted  husband.  The  Hagerstown  turnpike  for  weeks  saw 
every  afternoon  almost  one  continuous  funeral  procession,  bearing 
away  to  the  North  the  bruised  bodies  of  the  North's  bravest  sons. 
More  than  a  thousand,  perhaps,  were  thus  carried  home  to  sleep 
among  their  kindred,  to  repose  beneath  commemorative  stones,  to 
which  all  of  their  name  and  family  shall  point  hereafter  with  natural 
and  patriotic  pride. 

"  At  first  it  had  seemed  to  me  better  to  permit  our  brave  boys 
to  rest  undisturbed  under  the  bullet  scarred  trees,  in  the  little  glens, 
or  out  in  the  fields,  where  they  died  for  the  good  cause,  and  where 
they  had  been  laid  to  rest  by  their  comrades ;  but  when  I  saw  the 
gratification  with  which  their  graves  were  discovered  by  relatives 
who  had  come  hundreds  of  miles  to  claim  their  own,  and  the 
affectionate  tenderness,  not  unmixed  with  pride,  with  which  they 
lifted  the  beloved  forms,  shrouded  only  in  uniforms  of  blue,  into  their 
coffins,  and  the  evident  relief  with  which  they  commenced  their 
journey  home,  I  had  reason  to  change  my  mind." 

All  the  little  towns  were  full  of  the  wounded,   Union  soldiers 


304  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

and  rebels  sharing  alike  the  care  of  our  surgeons  and  nurses,  and 
the  bountiful  provision  of  necessaries  and  comforts  made  by  our 
friends  from  the  North.  Dwellings,  churches,  barns  and  out  houses 
were  full  of  suffering  men,  and  even  the  yards,  gardens  and  fields 
were  thickly  strewn  with  the  little  groups  of  shelter  tents  where  lay 
mingled  the  wounded  braves  of  both  armies. 

Says  Captain  Noyes,  "  It  is  probable  that  never,  in  the  whole 
history  of  warfare,  were  the  wounded  in  any  battle  so  expeditiously 
and  comfortably  cared  for.  The  surgical  department  of  the  army 
is,  in  general,  admirably  organized  and  conducted ;  the  Sanitary 
Commission  greatly  aided  in  the  good  work,  while  volunteer  nurses 
and  private  donations  lent  valuable  assistance.  As  speedily  as  they 
could  bear  transportation,  our  own  wounded  were  carried  to 
Frederick  in  ambulances,  and  so  on  to  Washington  or  elsewhere, 
while  the  rebels  were  paroled  and  allowed  to  pass  on  their  own 
way.  Many  of  these  came  North,  and  were  lost  to  the  rebel  cause 
forever. 

"  I  have  referred  to  the  Sanitary  Commission,  and  no  one  could 
visit  these  hospitals  without  becoming  a  firm  believer  in  the 
importance  and  value  of  this  institution,  as  supplementary  to  the 
regular  surgical  department.  Think  for  a  moment  of  the  terrible 
exigency  of  the  occasion  !  As  the  result  of  one  day's  fighting,  more 
than  ten  thousand  Union  and  rebel  soldiers  were  thrown  upon  our 
hands  at  Antietam,  needing  beds  instead  of  the  blankets  of  their 
usual  bivouac,  food  more  delicate  than  the  ordinary  army  ration, 
bed  clothes  and  under  clothes  of  every  description,  and  the  many 
other  articles  which  a  sick  man  requires.  Take  into  consideration 
the  deficiency  of  army  transportation,  except  for  the  absolute 
necessaries  of  the  battle  field  and  the  hospital,  and  the  fact  that  for 
days  after  such  a  battle  the  surgical  staff  is  busied  incessantly  in 
the  primary  operations  and  in  the  first  dressing  of  wounds,  and  you 
will  see  how  this  commission,  with  its  thorough  organization,  and 
lavish  expenditure  of  its  means  for  these  extra  supplies  and  their 
transportation,  becomes  to  our  poor  wounded  boys  the  source 
of  incalculable  comfort  and  solace.  It  follows  hard  upon  the 
foot-steps  of  our  advancing  armies,  so  that  within  three  days  its  forty 
agents  had  distributed  food  and  clothing  among  eight  thousand 
wounded  men ;  and  during  this  battle  month  of  September  it 
divided  more  than  $400,000  worth  of  supplies  among  the  various 
Eastern  and  Western  armies.  I  regret  to  add  that  some  of  our 
hospitals  at  Antietam  were  indebted  to  this  Commission  for  their 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  305 

first  supply  of  chloroform  ;    the  surgeon  found  without  it  should 
have  been  instantly  sent  home  in  disgrace. 


"  For  one,  I  believe  that  this  Commission  is  one  of  the  first 
fruits  of  our  most  advanced  Christian  civilization,  the  first  inroad 
into  the  domain  of  war  of  a  practical  Christianity  which  shall  yet 
throttle  and  destroy  this  demon  forever.  When  I  seek  to  estimate 
its  value  and  significance  in  its  various  supervisory,  reformatory  and 
scientific,  as  well  as  benevolent  operations,  to  say  nothing  of  those 
exceedingly  valuable  statistical  collections  which  are  to  be  the 
corner  stones  of  future  history,  I  confess  that  I  know  of  no  calculus 
by  which  correctly  to  compute  them.  Could  the  tens  of  thousands 
of  blue  uniformed  sufferers  it  has  relieved  utter  their  testimony,  we 
might  reach  some  adequate  expression. 

"  As  to  the  Western  department,  says  General  Rosecrans, 
February  2d,  1863:  'While  the  General  commanding  highly 
appreciates  and  does  not  underrate  the  charities  which  have  been 
lavished  on  this  army,  experience  has  demonstrated  the  importance 
of  system  and  impartiality,  as  well  as  judgment  and  economy,  in 
the  forwarding  and  distribution  of  these  supplies.  In  all  these 
respects  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission  stands  unrivalled. 
Its  organization,  experience,  and  large  facilities  for  the  work  are 
such  that  the  General  does  not  hesitate  to  recommend,  in  the  most 
urgent  manner,  all  those  who  desire  to  send  sanitary  supplies,  to 
confide  them  to  the  care  of  this  Commission.' 

"As  the  result  of  the  combined  efforts  of  the  surgical 
department  and  Sanitary  Commission  at  Antietam,  the  men  were 
soon  made  thoroughly  comfortable,  and  the  feeling  was  sown 
broadcast  throughout  the  army  that  the  soldier  who  perils  his  life 
in  battle  is  sure  of  kind  and  humane  treatment  should  he  receive  a 
wound.  How  much  our  foes  appreciated  this  kindness  was  well 
illustrated  by  the  remark  of  a  rebel  officer,  who  said  to  me,  as  he 
looked  up  laughingly  from  his  bed  on  the  floor  of  a  barn,  '  I  declare 
I  am  almost  sorry  to  quit ;  I  haven't  been  so  comfortable  since  I 
entered  the  army.'  " 

The  following  letters  we  clip  from  the  Courier  of  October  yth  : 

BIVOUAC  NEAR  SHARPSBURG,  MD., 

September  28th,  1862. 

One  year  ago  to-day  we  marched  from  Arlington  Heights  and  stormed  and 
captured  Upton's  Hill.  The  great  Army  of  the  Potomac  "advanced  "  and  secured 


306  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

the  ranges  of  hills  in  front  of  the  fortifications  which  it  was  deemed  important  should 
be  in  our  possession.  I  only  mention  this  now,  as  the  thought  struck  me  as  I  dated 
this  letter. 

We  have  been  living  quietly  in  our  present  bivouac  since  the  second  day  after 
the  battle  of  Antietam.  It  has  been  a  season  of  rest  for  a  tired  and  almost  worn  out 
army.  Yet  we  have  been  held  in  readiness  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice,  which  has 
prevented  us  from  making  arrangements  for  a  stay  of  a  week  or  ten  days,  which 
would  have  added  much  to  our  comfort. 

A  great  change  has  come  over  this  part  of  Maryland.  A  few  weeks  since  it 
had  a  quiet,  peaceful,  frugal  and  industrious  population.  The  tillers  of  the  soil 
looked  forward  with  hope  to  a  bountiful  harvest.  The  wheat  was  already  gathered, 
and  the  ripening  corn  laughed  on  a  thousand  hills.  All  the  fruits  promised 
abundance.  But  the  spoiler  came,  and  now  a  barren  waste  presents  itself  as  lar  as 
the  eye  can  reach.  Houses,  once  the  abode  of  peaceful  and  happy  families,  are  now 
occupied  by  the  sick  and  wounded  veterans  of  war.  The  women,  driven  from  their 
homes,  have  gathered  together  at  the  houses  of  distant  neighbors,  and,  with  a  devotion 
which  will  redound  to  their  everlasting  honor,  turned  their  attention  to  providing  for 
the  wants  of  those  who  were  stricken  down  by  the  bullet.  They  did  not  sit  down 
and  weep  over  their  misfortunes,  and  wring  their  hands  in  an  agony  of  fear  as  the 
shrieking  shells  tore  through  the  air,  but,  like  ministering  angels  on  charitable  deeds 
intent,  went  hither  and  thither  to  aid  and  succor  those  who  lay  bleeding  and  helpless 
in  the  houses  and  barns  near  the  field  of  strife.  Friend  and  foe  alike  received  their 
attention,  and  many  a  feeble  voice  rose  to  call  them  blessed. 

Devastation  follows  the  track  of  the  army  on  its  march.  Fences  disappear,  as 
if  by  magic,  to  feed  the  bivouac  fires,  while  everything  eatable  is  appropriated  to  feed 
the  stomach.  Even  the  commonest  necessaries  of  life  cannot  be  purchased  at  the 
farm  houses,  and  we  are  forced  to  depend  upon  the  Commissariat,  and  content 
ourselves  with  "  marching  rations,"  which  comprises  hard  bread,  coffee,  sugar  and 
fresh  beef  two  or  three  times  a  week. 

After  our  regular  Sunday  inspection  to-day,  the  brigade  attended  divine  service 
conducted  by  the  several  chaplains.  General  Patrick,  by  invitation,  gave  a  lecture, 
contrasting  the  march  of  the  Israelites  of  old,  under  Moses,  and  their  passage  through 
the  Red  Sea,  to  that  of  our  present  campaign,  and  the  similarity  that  existed  between 
the  Jewish  commonwealth  and  the  Government  of  the  United  States.  The  General 
is  an  earnest,  Christian  soldier,  and  takes  a  deep  and  religious  interest  in  the  moral 
as  well  as  physical  well  being  of  his  brigade.  A  brave  and  prudent  General,  he  has 
won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  officers  and  men. 

MONDAY,  September  29th. 

We  moved  our  camp  to-day,  for  sanitary  reasons,  from  the  woods  to  the  open 
field,  and  somewhat  nearer  the  Potomac,  which  is  now  in  plain  sight.  The  men  can 
now  have  an  opportunity  to  bathe,  which  has  hitherto  been  denied  them,  the 
proximity  of  the  foe  on  the  opposite  bank  rendering  it  somewhat  dangerous.  It 
appears  that  they  have  fallen  back,  and  our  own  pickets  now  occupy  that  bank 
of  the  river. 

After  being  cut  off  from  communication  with  the  outer  world  for  several  weeks, 
we  are  once  more  enabled  to  hear  what  is  going  on  outside  of  our  lines.  The 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  papers  reach  us  daily.  We  are  often  amused  at  the 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  307 

flaming  headings  that  precede  the  telegraphic  news.  How  the  rebels  are  being 
annihilated,  and  Stonewall  Jackson  and  his  whole  army  bagged.  I  ^have  no  doubt 
much  of  it  is  swallowed  by  the  public,  but  we  have  learned  to  look  with  distrust  on 
all  newspaper  announcements  of  great  victories.  Pope  announced  brilliant  successes 
in  Virginia,  when,  if  he  had  told  the  plain  truth,  it  would  have  been  better  for 
himself  and  for  the  country.  It  would  have  had  the  effect  of  hastening  the  new 
troops  forward,  perhaps  saved  the  disaster  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  prevented  Jackson 
from  forming  a  junction  with  Lee. 

Our  people  at  home  no  doubt  wonder  why  we  have  not  bagged  the  rebel  army, 
and  get  out  of  patience  from  day  to  day  because  the  ragamuffins  are  not  annihilated. 
It  is  just  what  we  would  like  very  much  to  do  if  we  could.  These  rebels  have  a  way 
of  striking  back,  which  makes  us  have  some  respect  for  their  presence.  If  our  people 
are  so  anxious  to  wipe  out  these  fellows,  why  don't  they  come  down  here  and  try  it 
on?  One  fight,  such  as  we  have  been  in,  would  take  the  conceit  out  of  them  some. 
They  are  as  brave  as  we  are,  their  army  quite  as  large  and  better  disciplined.  As 
long  as  they  can  find  enough  to  eat  they  will  give  blow  for  blow,  even  if  they  are 
forced  to  adopt  the  uniform  of  the  Arkansas  cavalry — a  shirt  collar  and  a  pair 
of  spurs. 

TUESDAY,  September  3Oth. 

The  whole  corps  seems  to  have  changed  its  position,  and  now  lies  along  the 
Potomac.  How  far  the  enemy  is  from  us  is  unknown  to  your  correspondent.  A 
balloon  reconnoissance  was  made  from  our  lines  this  morning,  but  I  have  not  learned 
the  result. 

Our  wounded  have  all  been  sent  away,  and  are  now  in  the  government  hospitals, 
either  at  Frederick,  Washington  or  Baltimore.  A  large  number  of  wounded  rebels 
remain,  who  receive  the  best  attention,  a  fact,  I  trust,  which  will  have  its  effect  on 
their  leaders,  and  influence  them  to  treat  our  wounded,  who  fall  into  their  hands,  as 
well,  and  thus  mitigate,  in  some  degree,  the  horrors  of  this  unnatural  war. 

We  have  received  but  one  mail  from  home  since  the  battle.  We  have  been 
promised  another  for  several  days  past,  but  it  has  not  yet  arrived.  The  appearance 
of  the  paymaster,  too,  is  anxiously  looked  for.  Five  months'  pay  is  now  due  the  men 
and  they  ought  to  have  it.  Our  march  has  been  so  rapid,  however,  that  he  could 
never  reach  us,  although  I  understand  he  made  the  attempt. 

The  young  ladies  of  the  Central  School  will  be  interested  to  learn  that  the  flag 
which  they  presented  to  the  regiment  is  still  in  our  keeping,  more  dearly  prized  than 
ever.  Somewhat  torn  and  faded,  yet  its  appearance  will  tell  more  eloquently  than 
words  how  it  has 

"  Braved  the  battle  and  the  breeze," 

and  we  are  willing  to  confess  that  we  look  forward  to  the  time  with  anxious  solicitude 
when  those  who  are  left  of  us  will  return  to  our  homes  with  it  proudly  floating  over 
our  heads.  God  grant  the  time  may  not  be  far  distant. 

WEDNESDAY,  October  ist. 

The  usual  routine  of  camp  duties  is  again  performed  —  guard  mounting,  drill 
and  parade.  Last  night  two  companies  were  under  charge  of  non-commissioned 
officers.  One  company  presented  a  front  of  four  files.  To  be  sure  the  ranks  were 
somewhat  thinned  by  the  details  for  guard,  fatigue  duty,  etc.,  but  our  regiment  is 


308  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

short  even  when  all  who  are  capable  of  doing  duty  are  present.  The  following 
officers  are  now  present :  Colonel  Rogers,  Adjutant  Sternberg,  Captain  Adams, 
Lieutenants  Wheeler,  McLiesh,  Remington,  Schermerhorn,  Beebee,  Efner,  Minnery 
and  Halsey.  Captain  Washburne  has  not  been  heard  of  since  the  battle  of  Bull  Run. 
All  the  others  are  either  sick  or  wounded,  and  we  hope  will  join  us  soon. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Drew  has  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.  He  left  for 
home  on  Monday. 

Another,  of  a  later  date,  from  Chaplain  Robie : 

NEAR  SHARPSBURG,  MD.,  October  6th,  1862. 

DEAR — Nothing  here  yet  indicates  an  advance.  "  All  is  quiet  on  the  lines  of 
the  Upper  Potomac !  "  When  Mac  will  suppose  himself  ready  to  make  another 
demonstration  is  only  known  to  himself.  My  idea  is  that  he  don't  intend  to  cross 
the  river  here,  but  will  find  his  way  to  Washington,  and  that  as  soon  as  the  river 
rises.  It  is  so  strange,  so  remarkably  mysterious  to  us  pugnacious  ones,  that  all  this 
fine  and  dry  weather  is  permitted  to  pass  and  we  do  nothing. 

A  number  of  our  officers  have  been  quite  sick  of  late.  Our  Adjutant,  hitherto 
hale  and  hearty,  and  strong  and  bony  enough  to  do  the  duty  of  a  dozen  men,  has  had 
to  succumb  for  a  few  days.  He  is  now  improving.  Lieutenants  Wheeler  and 
Remington  have  been  confined  for  some  days,  but  are  now  convalescent.  Several 
of  the  boys  are  sick,  too  unwell  to  remain  in  camp. 


A  word  on  correspondence.  Many  friends  of  the  boys  may  suppose  that  we 
are  exceedingly  dilatory  in  answering  their  inquiries.  I  have  only  to  say  that  the 
mails  reach  us  very  irregularly.  Sometimes  eight  or  nine  days  will  pass  before  we 
receive  any.  Then,  as  yesterday,  my  letters  are  old,  some  of  them  twelve  and 
fifteen  days  back.  I  have  answered  twenty-one  to-day,  received  in  yesterday's  mail; 
in  most  of  the  instances  I  have  no  doubt  much  earlier  intelligence  has  been  received 
by  the  anxious  and  afflicted  ones.  I  shall  send  you,  at  once,  all  matters  of  interest. 

It  is  now  going  on  Jive  months  since  the  Government  has  paid  our  regiment. 
You  need  not  be  informed  that  we  are  in  the  midst  of  a  money  famine.  The  boys 
do  actually  need  some  in  order  to  make  soldiering  at  all  comfortable. 

The  weather  has  been  delightfully  fine  ever  since  the  battle.     Good  bye, 

ROBIE. 

On  Wednesday,  October  8th,  the  boys  were  turned  out  to  say 
good-bye  to  their  old  General,  who,  having  been  assigned  to  duty 
at  headquarters  as  Provost  Marshal  General  of  the  army,  on  that 
day  relinquished  his  command  to  Colonel  Rogers. 

The  following  is  his  farewell  order,  listened  to  with  mingled 
pride  and  regret  by  those  who,  in  months  of  peril  and  hardship,  had 
earned  to  place  in  him  their  confidence  and  love : 


TWENTY -FIRST     REGIMENT.  309 

HEADQUARTERS  30  BRIGADE,  IST  DIVISION,  IST  ARMY  CORPS, 

CAMP  BARNETT,  October  7th,  1862. 
General  Orders  No.  64. 

The  Brigadier  General  Commanding,  having  been  assigned  to  duty  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  by  General  Orders  No.  161,  of  the  6th 
instant,  hereby  relinquishes  to  Colonel  Rogers,  of  the  Twenty-First  regiment,  the 
command  of  this  brigade,  which  was  received  from  him  seven  months  ago.  ( )nly 
seven  months  ago  the  General  assumed  command  :  Yet  the  ties  that  bind  together 
those  who,  like  ourselves,  have  shared  each  other's  hardships  and  dangers,  who  have 
followed  the  same  standard  through  so  many  battles,  and  gathered  around  it  with 
ranks  thinned,  but  unbroken,  when  the  combat  was  over — such  ties  cannot  be  broken 
by  the  order  that  relieves  your  General  from  the  command. 

That  he  must  continue  to  take  the  liveliest  interest  in  the  welfare  of  a  brigade 
that  has  never  failed  in  the  hour  of  peril,  whether  in  daylight  or  in  darkness,  to  honor 
his  every  command,  no  one  can  doubt,  and  he  trusts  that  both  officers  and  men  will 
touch  lightly  upon  his  faults,  in  the  full  conviction  that  as  their  Commander,  he  has 
endeavored  to  discharge  his  duties  to  them,  to  his  country  and  his  God. 

He  leaves  you  with  fervent  wishes  for  your  prosperity,  and  the  earnest  hope 
that  an  honorable  peace  may  soon  be  won,  so  that  we  may  once  more  return  to  our 
own  loved  homes  by  the  broad  rivers  and  lakes  of  the  Empire  State.  By  order  of 

BRIGADIER  GENERAL  PATRICK. 
J.  P.  KIMBALL,  A.  A.  General. 

His  successor,  General  Paul,  assumed  command  of  the  brigade 
on  the  1 4th,  and  Colonel  Rogers,  whose  health  demands  instant 
release  from  his  duties,  left  for  home  on  furlough,  leaving  the 
regiment  in  command  of  Major  Sternberg.  Orders  had  been  issued 
on  the  loth,  for  the  command  to  hold  itself  in  readiness  to  move  at 
an  hour's  notice,  and  on  the  1310  one  hundred  rounds  of  cartridges 
had  been  dealt  out  to  each  man.  The  army  had  not  been  idle. 
Details  of  mechanics,  the  "mud-sills"  of  the  North,  busily  plying 
their  various  crafts,  were  reconstructing  the  bridge  across  the 
Potomac ;  every  day  witnessed  progress  in  the  preparations  to 
cross,  and  it  was  hoped  that  the  storm  of  the  equinox,  which  always 
swells  the  Potomac  at  about  this  season,  would  speedily  send  down 
the  floods  from  the  mountains,  making  the  river  impassible  to  the 
rebels,  while  we,  already  across  at  this  point,  could  move  against 
them  with  all  our  force. 

Meanwhile  our  men  were  improving  in  health  and  spirits,  but 
not  yet  up  to  their  old  standard,  and  gaining  slowly  in  numbers  by 
return  from  hospital  of  the  less  severely  wounded  and  a  few  of  the 
sick  who  had  been  sent  there  before  the  fighting.  Chaplain  Robie 
writes  from  Washington,  to  a  friend  in  Buffalo,  on  the  lyth  inst.  : 


310  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

"  I  have  been  here  for  two  days  past ;  shall  probably  leave 
to-morrow,  not  for  my  home  and  friends  in  Buffalo,  but  to  rejoin 
my  regiment.  I  hear  no  news  which  will  shed  light  on  the  dear 
missing  ones  connected  with  some  of  our  city  families." 

About  twelve  or  fifteen  of  the  Twenty-First,  would  return  with 
the  Chaplain  to  the  camp.  The  health  of  Captain  Clinton  was 
improving ;  Captain  Layton  was  still  ill ;  Sergeant  Davock  was 
much  better ;  Lieutenant  Vallier  was  anxious  to  return,  but  would 
not  be  able  to  do  so  for  several  weeks.  The  letter  adds :  "  We 
shall  be  highly  gratified  if  we  can  ever  again  muster  three 
hundred  men. 

The  Christian  Advocate  publishes  a  letter  from  "Jimmy,"  the 
Post  Boy  of  the  Twenty-First,  from  which  we  make  the  following 

extracts  : 

CAMP  BARNETT,  MD.,  October  iSth.  1862. 

*  Our  men  are  all  much  pleased  with  the  promotions  in 

the  regiment ;  all  of  our  field  officers  have  proved  themselves  to  be  the  right  men  in 
the  right  place.  William  Burt,  of  Company  B,  has  been  appointed  Sergeant  Major 
in  place  of  W.  H.  Fargo,  promoted.  Burt  has  earned  his  position,  and  all  are  glad 
he  has  it. 

The  health  of  the  regiment  is  fair,  considering  what  it  has  gone  through.  We 
all  miss  Dr.  Wilcox,  but  do  not  want  him  to  return  until  he  has  entirely  recovered 
his  former  strength,  which  he  lost  by  keeping  up  three  nights  and  days,  constantly 
watching  and  attending  to  the  wounded  of  the  Twenty-First. 

General  Paul  is  our  new  Brigadier  General.  The  War  Department  seems 
determined  to  furnish  only  "canonized"  gentlemen  to  this  brigade,  and  if  he  will 
prove  as  good  as  his  predecessor,  "St.  Patrick,"  our  men  will  have  no  cause 
to  complain. 

Lieutenant  P.  C.  Doyle,  is  now  acting  Provost  Marshal  of  the  Army  Corps. 
His  company  goes  with  him  as  Provost  Guard.  Lieutenant  B.  Schermerhorn  takes 
his  place  as  acting  Quartermaster  of  the  regiment. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT  311 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


On  the  March  again.—"  Pound  Sterling."— The  rigors  of  the  Fall  Campaign.— Crampton's 
Gap.— Bloomfield.— The  Enemy  just  in  advance.— We  reach  Warrenton.— General  McClellan 
relieved  of  his  command,  and  succeeded,  by  General  Burnside. — Consequent  feeling  in 
the  Army. 


AT  last,  on  Monday,  October  2oth,  came  the  order  to  march  — 
the  division  having  been  ordered  to  Bakersville,  about  six 
miles  from  the  Potomac.  This  was  supposed  to  be  initiatory  to  a 
general  movement  of  the  army,  and  was  hailed  accordingly.  At 
Bakersville  another  week  was  passed  in  "  preparations  "  and  picket 
duty.  Meanwhile  the  weather,  which  had  grown  very  cold,  became 
cloudy  and  it  rained  almost  daily.  In  the  midst  of  a  storm  on 
Sunday  the  26th,  came  the  order  to  march  for  Crampton's  Gap. 

"  This  order,"  says  "  Pound  Sterling,"  the  genial  historian  of 
our  Twenty-Third  regiment,  "  turned  us  houseless  into  the  cold 
northeaster  which  came  down  incessantly,  drenching  us  to  the  skin. 
Hours  elapsed  before  the  long  column  which  was  to  precede  us  had 
passed,  and  night,  densely  dark  and  gloomy,  spread  around. 
Cheered  by  the  darkness  the  spirit  of  the  storm  grew  wilder  and 
fiercer,  and  laughed  in  apparent  glee. 

"  The  boys  had  made  huge  bonfires  of  the  rubbish  of  deserted 
tents,  and  around  each  a  group  of  soldiers  looked  in  the  vivid  glare 
of  the  firelight  like  so  many  spectres.  The  passing  column  would 
come  up  out  of  the  darkness  into  the  light,  blurt  out  some  badinage 
at  us,  and  plunge  again  into  the  gloom.  At  last  the  tail  of  the  great 
serpent  trailed  itself  past,  and  we  plunged  out  into  the  blackness. 
The  rain  had  made  the  knapsacks  heavy,  and  the  earth  a  slippery, 
slimy  mass  of  mire.  We  staggered,  braced,  staggered  again,  and 
fell  —  fell  sprawling  into  this  muddy  mixture.  The  passing  of 
thousands  of  feet  had  made  a  sea  of  the  road.  It  was  from  half 
shoe  to  ankle  deep,  and  treacherous  sloughs  let  the  unsuspected 
soldier  almost  knee  deep  into  the  slush." 


312  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

From  a  published  leaf  of  Chaplain  Robie's  journal,  I  take  the 
following-  description  of  the  day's  misery  and  night  of  suffering  that 
accomplished  the  removal  of  two  and  a  half  miles  from  our  camp 
of  that  morning- : 

"  But  what  was  our  disappointment  to-day,  Sabbath,  when 
orders  came,  about  three  o'clock,  to  strike  tents  and  move!  Could 
it  be  possible !  and  what  was  the  demand  for  such  an  unheard  of 
trial !  But  the  command  must  be  obeyed.  So  near  dark  our 
drenched  tents  were  knotted  up,  the  rain  at  the  time  descending  in 
torrents,  and  we  were  preparing  for  the  final  leave.  Such  an 
uncomfortable  time  we  had  never  before  experienced,  and  to  make 
our  condition  still  more  unpleasant,  it  grew  suddenly  and 
intensely  cold. 

"  Were  I  possessed  of  the  descriptive  power  adequate,  I  could 
picture  a  scene  which  would  make  the  hearts  of  our  friends  at  home 
chill  with  horror.  They  should  first  see  our  boys,  almost  in  all 
respects,  unprepared  for  a  march  of  any  kind.  Still  dressed  in  their 
summer  clothing,  not  one-third  of  them  having-  overcoats,  and 
numbers  of  them  with  worn  out  and  leaky  shoes,  and  withal,  poorly 
fed.  In  this  sad  plight  amidst  the  rain  and  chilling  winds,  and  after 
dark,  they  started  on  their  weary  march. 

"  As  soon  as  we  had  left  the  light  of  our  camp  fires,  the 
darkness  became  dense  and  hardly  an  object  could  be  traced.  The 
roads,  too,  had  become  about  as  bad  as  they  could  be  made.  The 
mud  much  of  the  way  was  over  the  shoes  of  the  boys,  while  in  many 
places  the  water  was  nearly  knee  deep.*  The  scene  and  suffering 
was  deplorable  and  intense.  Never  were  my  feelings  more  touched. 
I  could  not  and  have  not  discovered  the  need  of  this  sacrifice  on 
the  part  of  the  soldiers.  But  on  we  went,  stumbling  over  stones, 
and  groping  our  way  through  dense  woods,  and  delving  in  the 
mud  and  mire  of  recently  ploughed  fields.  Could  fathers  and 
mothers  have  seen  their  boys  in  such  a  sad  plight  how  would  their 
hearts  have  been  touched  !  They  know  but  little  what  war  compels 
their  sons  to  endure  ! 

"  But  this  was  not  all  of  the  disastrous  night.  Soon  after  nine 
o'clock  our  column  was  deployed  in  a  field  of  low  land,  a  little  in 
the  rear  of  the  center  line,  which  fought  so  valiantly  in  the 


*"  There  was  one  good  feature  about  this  day's  march.  It  was  not  one  of  those  doubtful 
days  when,  by  picking  your  way  now  here,  now  here,  you  can  partially  protect  yourself,  for  the 
mud  was  deep  and  universal.  There  was  no  anxiety  about  it ;  your  first  plunge  settled  the  matter, 
and  you  had  wet  feet  and  the  entire  freedom  of  the  road  for  the  rest  of  the  day."—  Captain  Noyes. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  313 

memorable  battle  of  Antietam.  Here,  in  the  midst  of  the  cold  and 
violent  rain,  we  tried  to  make  our  state  endurable.  But  imagine  a 
regiment,  with  poor  clothing,  and  what  they  had  soaking  in  the 
wet,  in  a  mud  field,  attempting  to  find  rest !  To  be  sure,  we  soon 
had  lighted  a  multitude  of  camp  fires,  but  nothing  further  could  be 
provided,  as  we  expected  every  moment  to  move  further  on.  So, 
amid  this  state  of  uncertainty,  with  every  element  seemingly 
unfriendly  to  our  peace,  we  lingered  out  one  of  the  most  miserable 
nights  of  our  military  life.  As  I  passed  around  among  the  poor 
shivering  boys,  hoping  to  cheer  them  a  little,  I  must  confess  to  a 
good  deal  of  sympathy.  But  this  is  only  one  of  our  war  scenes. 
The  Twenty-First  has  endured  many  such  already.  May  its  future 
be  brighter !  " 

Next  day  we  reached  Crampton's  Gap,  and  the  day  after  arrived 
at  Berlin,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Here  the  half  clothed 
column  was  gladdened  by  the  issue  of  overcoats,  large  and  warm, 
and  of  the  prescribed  light  army  blue — but  few  of  the  old  black 
ones,  so  long  our  distinguishing  uniform,  being  now  left  in  the 
regiment. 

We  lay  at  Berlin  one  day  ;  that  day  being  devoted  to  a  brigade 
drill  and  the  making  out  of  pay  rolls,  a  happy  event,  as  it  pointed 
to  the  eventual  arrival  of  our  paymaster  and  the  liquidation  of  long 
arrears  in  our  account  with  Uncle  Sam. 

On  the  3Oth,  we  said  good-bye  to  Maryland,  put  our  worldly 
effects  into  transportable  shape,  and  once  more  crossed  the 
Potomac  into  Virginia,  making  a  march  by  moonlight  for  about  ten 
miles  on  the  turnpike  toward  Leesburg,  camping  about  nine  o'clock 
near  Lovettsville.  Next  day  we  marched  a  mile  farther,  turned  off 
the  main  road  and  again  encamped  until  10  o'clock  the  following- 
morning,  when  we  moved  on  to  the  Leesburg  and  Snickersville 
turnpike,  which  we  followed  rapidly  toward  the  latter  town,  halted 
again  at  Purcellsville,  where  the  balance  of  the  regiment  bivouacked, 
while  Co.  "  K  "  went  forward  and  did  picket  duty  until  the  next 
day,  when  they  were  relieved  by  "  D."  Our  advancing  column  had 
here  encountered  a  rebel  force  that  morning,  driving  them  toward 
Bloomfield  where  they  were  still  fighting  that  day. 

This  was  on  Sunday,  the  first  day  of  November,  and  "  Pound 
Sterling"  gives  the  following  description  of  the  brigade  church 
service  of  that  day  : 

"  The  primeval  forest  was  our  church,  lighted  up  with  all  the 
splendor  of  a  brilliant  sun,  and  decked  most  gorgeously  with  the 


314  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

rich  and  varied  tinted  foliage  with  which  autumn  so  lavishly  adorns 
the  forests.  The  same  breeze  that  wafted  to  us  the  deep  toned 
thunder  of  the  battle  at  the  Gap,  wafted  a  shower  of  seared  leaves 
from  the  overhanging-  boughs,  which  fell  upon  our  heads — a  meet 
baptism  and  token  of  the  presence  of  the  great  I  AM,  at  our 
worship.  The  scene  was  a  solemn  one,  and  the  clear,  rich  tones  of 
our  Chaplain,  as  in  eloquent  terms  he  expounded  the  great  truths 
of  God's  plan  of  salvation,  and  reverently  lifted  the  vail  that  we 
might  gaze  upon  the  glories  of  the  hereafter,  added  a  deeper 
solemnity,  and  in  awe  we  felt  that  God  was  walking  through  the 
forest  and  in  our  midst.  Hundreds  of  stout  hearts,  who  had  looked 
death  calmly  in  the  face  in  more  than  half  a  score  of  battles,  were 
now  awe  stricken,  and  bowed  in  devout  worship  of  His  unseen 
presence." 

Chaplain  Robie,  on  the  same  day,  writes  as  follows  : 

"  The  weather  is  very  beautiful,  the  finest  of  the  fall.  The 
roads  too,  are  in  most  excellent  condition.  This  is  much  to  say  for 
old  Virginia,  for  generally,  roads  are  bad. 

"  The  movement  of  a  large  army  is  a  most  magnificent  sight, 
one  which  I  wish  you  could  see,  as  you  would  then  be  impressed 
with  the  vastness  of  the  work  in  which  we  are  engaged. 

"  Thus  far  our  march  in  Virginia  has  been  one  of  much  interest, 
the  better  country  and  the  nearness  of  the  enemy,  rendered  it  really 
exciting.  To-day  we  may  be  brought  in  closer  proximity  than  will 
be  really  relishable,  though  we  came  here  to  shoot  and  be  shot  at. 
Let  the  conflict  rage  if  it  will  only  bring  about  the  grand  result — 
the  hoped  for,  prayed  for  consummation — peace  and  the  complete 
establishment  of  the  old  blessed  Union. 

"  But  few  of  the  regiment  are  now  sick,  less  I  judge,  in  propor 
tion,  than  ever  before.  I  am  glad  to  record  this  fact,  as  it  may  be 
gratifying  to  friends  who  have  dear  ones  with  us. 

"  A  grand  affair  came  off  among  us  yesterday,  one  which  will 
cause  more  joy  and  produce  more  contentment  among  the  boys 
than  almost  any  other  which  occurred.  I  refer  to  the  Muster  and 
the  making  out  of  our  Pay  Rolls.  The  prospect  now  is  that  the 
boys  will  have  some  money  before  long,  and  be  assured,  when  it 
comes,  there  will  be  a  shout  in  the  camps  ! 

"  The  discipline  and  command  of  the  regiment  is  favorable — the 
command,  especially,  having  fallen  into  most  competent  hands. 
Captain  Lee,  acting  Colonel,  possesses  many  of  the  essentials  of  an 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  315 

able  and  popular  leader.  Had  another  field  officer  to  be  appointed 
many  of  our  minds  would  fall  on  him  as  one  most  competent  to  fill 
the  position.  This  reference,  I  am  sure,  will  be  pleasing  to  our 
Colonel,  who  is  sick  and  abs'ent  from  us,  but  whose  return  will  be 
welcomed  by  us  all. 

"  I  might  also  speak  in  the  best  terms  of  our  new  Adjutant, 
Lieutenant  Samuel  P.  Gail.  He  takes  to  the  position  admirably 
and  seems  quite  at  home  in  meeting  the  responsibilities  of  one  of 
the  most  difficult  and  active  positions  in  the  regiment. 

"  But  I  must  close,  as  we  move,  with  short  reference  this  time 
to  our  new  acting  Quartermaster  Schermerhorn  and  Surgeons  Fry 
•and  Gibbs,  all  of  whom  are  aiming  to  reflect  honor  on  the  positions 
which  have  only  lately  been  assigned  them. 

"  In  my  next,  should  I  have  an  opportunity  of  again  writing,  I 
may  give  you  items  of  more  exciting  character.  But  as  we  are  ofT, 
I  must  bid  you  and  my  good  friends  in  Buffalo  good-bye." 

On  Monday  we  marched  about  eight  miles  toward  Ashby's 
Gap,  camping  at  night  near  Bloomfield.  The  smouldering  fires 
here  showed  where  the  enemy's  pickets  had  been  the  night  before. 
The  next  day's  march  was  a  short  one,  and  our  tents  were  again 
pitched,  that  afternoon,  in  a  forest  a  short  distance  beyond  the 
village.  On  Wednesday  morning,  at  9  o'clock,  the  march  was 
resumed.  "  Gibbon's  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hoffman's  brigade 
now  took  the  road  to  the  right,  General  Patrick's  (now  Paul's)  and 
that  of  General  Hatch  taking  that  to  the  left,  over  the  hills.  The 
day  was  well  advanced  before  this  long  and  cumbersome  column  of 
infantry,  artillery,  ambulance  and  baggage  trains  had  uncoiled  itself 
and  was  fully  under  way  ;  so  we  were  constantly  checked,  would  go 
a  little  way  and  stop  for  the  column  to  move,  then  go  a  little  farther 
and  stop  again.  At  last  a  certain  steadiness  was  gained,  and  onward 
we  pressed  at  a  rapid  pace.  It  was  only  occasionally  checked  by 
creeks  and  narrow  defiles.  Up  and  down  the  rocky  sides  of  these 
mongrel  mountains  and  across  broad  expanses  of  field  and  wood  we 
hurry ;  now  we  dive  into  a  deep  dark  forest — emerge,  and  taking 
a  short  turn  sweep  off  to  the  right  or  left,  constantly  walled  in  by 
stone  fences.  We  make  all  points  of  the  compass,  but  press  onward, 
still  onward. 

"  Weakly  men  sink  at  last  under  their  burden,  unable  to 
proceed — nature,  but  not  themselves,  is  exhausted.  'Bully'  men 
swear  they  will  not  go  a  step  farther,  and  lie  down  to  rest,  regardless 
of  consequences.  Resolute  men  keep  pace.  Night  at  last  made 


316  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

progress  more  difficult,  and  the  welcome  fires  of  the  advance  gleamed 
out  through  the  darkness,  and  we  pitched  our  tents  and  sought  rest 
and  sleep.  This  bivouac  lay  about  one  mile  east  of  Hectortown. 
We  had  carried  our  knapsacks  about*  twenty-four  miles  that  day, 
but  had  only  made  about  sixteen  miles  in  a  direct  line." 

Next  clay  we  marched  at  7  o'clock,  through  Salem  and  across 
the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad  to  Warrenton.  The  march  was,  in 
difficulty,  nearly  a  repetition  of  that  of  yesterday.  We  made 
eighteen  miles,  marching  for  most  of  the  time  by  division  and 
company  front,  through  fields  and  woods  and  avoiding  the  easier 
roads,  for  we  were  constantly  near  the  enemy,  and  the  fighting  in 
front  was  almost  continual.  Our  cavalry  took  the  advance  with  the 
Pennsylvania  Reserves,  and  had  no  difficulty  in  driving  the  rebels 
out  of  Warrenton  as  we  approached.  We  took  many  rebel 
prisoners  here  and  found  many  of  the  enemy's  wounded  in  charge 
of  their  surgeons,  who  sat,  decked  out  in  their  best,  at  the  doors  of 
the  finest  houses,  and  amused  themselves  by  a  skirmish  of  comment 
and  retort  with  our  troops  as  they  filed  past. 

We  formed  our  camp  near  the  "pike"  half  a  mile  west  of  the 
town,  and  here  it  remained  until  Tuesday,  the  nth  of  November. 
Next  day  we  had  our  first  snow  storm,  an  event  for  which  we  were 
hardly  prepared.  "  A  dog's  kennel  is  more  comfortable  than  the 
little  shelter  tent,  and  attempts  at  comfort  are  rather  futile.  But  the 
dumb  brutes  suffer  more  than  the  men.  In  a  few  hours  the  weather 
had  changed  from  a  pleasant  autumn  day  to  all  the  rigor  of  mid 
winter.  Snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  four  inches  on  Friday,  but  it  was 
very  transient,  lasting  only  two  days." 

On  Saturday  some  of  our  officers  visited  Warrenton,  where  it 
had  just  begun  to  be  whispered  at  headquarters  that  an  order 
relieving  General  McClellan  from  the  command  had  been  received. 
In  fact,  General  Burnside,  who  had  been  ordered  to  assume  com 
mand,  was  at  that  time  holding  a  consultation  with  the  other  generals 
upon  the  question  of  accepting,  which  he  was  not  yet  willing  to  do. 
It  was  not  until  Monday  following  that  this  order  was  officially 
announced,  the  troops  being  on  that  day  called  out  to  receive  the 
farewell  of  their  old  commander.  The  feeling  with  which  the  army 
received  this  news  was  as  deep  as  unmistakable ;  it  is  certain  that, 
deserved  or  not,  no  man  could  hold  a  nearer  place  in  their  hearts 
than  that  held  by  the  favorite  commander  whom  they  were  now 
about  to  lose,  and  many  agree  in  the  opinion  that  if  the  army  ever 
approached  demoralization  it  was  near  that  condition  at  this  time. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  317 

They  seemed  to  have  lost  all  spirit,  or  were  furious,  mad  with  the 
thought  of  what  they  considered  rank  injustice  and  ingratitude  to 
their  idolized  leader,  whom  they  also  looked  upon  as  the  one  who 
had  saved  them  and  the  country.  This  feeling  even  went  so  far  as 
to  cause  every  officer  in  one  of  the  Wisconsin  regiments  to  resign, 
and  following  the  example  was  seriously  contemplated  by  the  entire 
field,  staff  and  line  of  other  organizations,  who  were  checked  by 
hearing  that  those  resignation  had  been  returned  from  headquarters 
with  the  query  if  this  "  were  not  a  mutiny  ?  " 


318  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 


CHAPTER     XIX. 


Our  third  March  to  Fredericksburg. — Death  of  Surgeon  Wilcox. — The  weather  becomes  cold,  with 
Snow. — Rigors  of  the  March. — Preparing  for  the  Fight. — The  Battle  of  Fredericksburg. 


AT  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  November,  nth, 
the  army  was  again  in  motion,  en  route  for  Fredericksburg. 
It  was  known  to  the  army  generally  that  such  was  its  probable 
destination,  but  it  was  also  possible,  and  by  many  considered 
probable  that  a  battle  would  be  fought  before  reaching  that  place. 
Firing  was  occasionally  heard  in  the  direction  of  the  Rappahannock, 
and  the  enemy  was  always  known  to  be  within  striking  distance, 
only  the  fact  that  the  river  flowed  between  the  two  armies  rendered 
it  probable  that  he  would  await  an  attack  upon  his  own  side. 

We  marched  that  day  to  Fayetteville,  a  distance  of  only  eight 
miles,  and  camped,  some  time  after  dark.  Here  our  division  lay 
with  the  great  part  of  the  army  until  the  lyth,  the  interval  being 
employed  in  drilling  the  men  and  replacing  the  horses,  a  great 
many  of  them  having  been  disabled  by  hoof  disease. 

This  camp  was  made  memorable  by  one  of  the  saddest  events 
in  our  history  as  a  regiment,  for  it  was  here  that  we  received  news 
of  the  death  of  our  old  much  loved  Surgeon,  Doctor  Wilcox.  It 
was  a  blow  as  sudden  as  it  was  grievous,  for  though  all  knew  that 
his  devotion  to  his  charge  had  jeopardized  his  health,  few  had 
imagined  that  that  noble  heart  and  ready  hand,  that  ever  active 
figure  and  the  cheerful  face  all  had  learned  to  greet  as  belonging 
to  one  of  our  truest  and  bravest  friends,  had  gone  from  us  never  to 
return ;  never  to  know  perhaps  the  half  of  that  we  felt  for  him,  or 
the  void  he  left,  never  to  be  filled.  To  the  truth  of  the  facts  set 
forth  in  the  following  obituary,  published  in  the  Morning  Express 
of  November  8th,  we  can  most  heartily  subscribe. 

OBITUARY. — Dr.  Charles  H.  Wilcox,  Surgeon  of  the  Twenty-First  Regiment, 
a  necessarily  brief  notice  of  whose  sad  death  we  have  already  given,  has  been  for 
many  years  a  resident  of  this  city,  and  was  one  of  our  most  distinguished  physicians 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  319 

and  respected  citizens,  and  warmly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  At  the  time  the 
rebellion  broke  out  he  abandoned  his  lucrative  practice,  and  actuated  by  the  purest 
motives  of  patriotism  and  humanity  alone,  and  at  no  small  personal  sacrifice,  accepted 
the  appointment  of  Surgeon  in  the  Twenty-First  Regiment.  His  death,  the  result  of 
his  noble  devotion  to  his  arduous  duties,  furnishes  a  mournful  evidence  of  the  untir 
ing  faithfulness  with  which  he  executed  the  great  and  serious  responsibilities  of  his 
position.  Forgetful  of  self,  he  thought  only  of  the  safety  and  comfort  of  those 
committed  to  his  care.  Night  and  day,  in  the  camp,  the  hospital  and  amidst  the 
roar  of  battle,  he  was  with  them,  unceasing  in  his  efforts  to  alleviate  their  sufferings, 
performing  his  duties  with  the  patience  and  devotedness  of  a  Christian,  the  courage 
of  a  soldier  and  gentleness  of  a  woman. 

The  long  exemption  of  his  regiment  from  sickness  is  a  high  compliment  to  his 
ability,  and  the  deep  sorrow  of  its  members  at  his  death  a  rare  tribute  to  his  worth. 

When  he  first  joined  the  regiment,  we  are  informed  that  he  was  not  popular 
with  the  men,  on  account  of  the  strictness  with  which  he  enforced  all  sanitary 
measures,  but  as  time  wore  on,  and  they  saw  hundreds  in  other  regiments  stricken 
down  by  disease  while  they  remained  untouched,  they  began  to  appreciate  and 
respect  that  unceasing  vigilance  and  decision  which  had  preserved  them;  and  as  they 
became  better  acquainted  with  his  noble  qualities,  to  their  respect  was  added  a  strong 
and  abiding  affection.  Those  who  knew  him  best  and  needed  him  most,  will  most 
miss  him.  Those  for  whom  he  gave  his  life  as  a  sacrifice  that  they  might  be  saved, 
can  best  appreciate  what  a  costly  sacrifice  it  was,  and  will  remember  it  gratefully  and 
tenderly  as  long  as  the  memory  of  their  glory  and  suffering  remains.  He  died  for 
the  benefit  of  humanity — may  his  memory  live  and  grow  bright  with  the  lapse  of 
years  for  that  of  posterity. 

We  append  the  following  resolutions  adopted  at  a  meeting  of 
the  officers  of  our  regiment,  held  immediately  after  receiving  news 
of  his  death: 

CAMP  OF  THE  2isT  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V.,  NEAR  FAYETTEVII.LE,  VA., 

November  13111,  1862. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  Twenty-First  Regiment,  held  upon  the 
announcement  of  the  death  of  Charles  H.  Wilcox,  our  recent  Surgeon,  the  following 
proceedings  were  had  : 

Captain  Edward  L.  Lee  was  appointed  Chairman,  and  Lieutenant  Samuel  P. 
(jail  Secretary. 

On  motion  of  Chaplain  John  E.  Robie,  the  Chairman  appointed  the  following 
officers  a  Committee  to  draft  resolutions  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  meeting : 
Chaplain  John  E.  Robie,  Captain  A.  M.  Adams,  Captain  H.  P.  Clinton,  Assistant 
Surgeon  Chas.  B.  Fry,  Lieutenant  Levi  Vallier. 

The  Committee  made  the  following  report,  which  was  unanimously  adopted : 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  our  Great  Captain  to  remove  from  us  our  late  comrade 
and  brother  officer,  Surgeon  Charles  H.  Wilcox,  we  deem  it  proper  that  we  should 
express,  in  some  fitting  manner,  our  deep  grief  at  the  dispensation,  and  tender  our 
condolence  to  those  connected  to  him  by  nearer  ties  than  ourselves.  Surgeon  Wilcox 
has  been  with  us  since  our  organization  as  a  regiment,  and  until  he  recently  left  us  to 


320  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

return  no  more,  has  been  constantly  with  us.  He  had  so  endeared  himself  to  us 
that  we  feel  his  loss  almost  irreparable.  As  a  man  he  was  genial,  kind  and  universally 
esteemed.  As  a  surgeon,  skillful  and  accomplished,  and  as  an  officer,  firm,  faithful, 
and  untiring  in  the  performance  of  his  duties. 

To  his  untiring  zeal  and  labor  we  attribute  in  a  great  degree  the  unexampled 
health  which  has  blessed  our  regiment,  and  to  his  skill,  and  courage  on  the  battle 
field,  many  a  brave  soldier  owes  his  life.  On  the  late  bloody  fields  of  Manassas, 
South  Mountain  and  Antietam  he  signally  distinguished  himself.  For  days  he 
scarcely  bethought  himself  of  food  or  rest,  but  was  everywhere  present  contributing 
his  personal  efforts  and  professional  skill  to  the  aid  of  the  wounded  and  dying. 
Many,  many  live  to  bless  his  memory  ! 

He  has  died  in  his  efforts  to  save  the  lives  of  others,  another  noble  sacrifice  on 
the  altar  of  his  country.  We  cherish  his  memory  for  the  deeds  he  has  done.  None 
braver  have  fallen  on  the  field;  none  more  devoted  to  duty  and  their  country  live  to 
mourn  his  loss.  It  is  therefore 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Surgeon  Charles  H.  Wilcox,  the  profession  has 
lost  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments,  society  an  accomplished  gentleman,  and  our 
Regiment  one  who  has  guarded  it  with  the  most  devoted  care,  and  bound  us  to  him 
by  endearing  ties. 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  deplore  his  loss,  and  tender  our  most  heartfelt 
sympathy  to  his  bereaved  wife  and  family — feeling,  though  we  mourn,  that  a  gracious 
God  ordereth  all  things  aright,  and  in  this  dispensation  will  work  out  a  most  benign 
Providence. 

Resolved,  That  the  officers  of  this  regiment  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning 
for  thirty  days. 

Resolved,  That  these  proceedings  be  published  in  the  daily  journals  of  Buffalo, 
and  a  copy  be  forwarded  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

EDWARD  L.  LEE,  Chairman. 
SAMUEL  P.  GAIL,  Secretary. 

Early  morning  of  the  lyth,  ushered  in  a  chilling,  gloomy  rain 
storm,  in  which  we  "broke  camp"  at  ten  and  again  took  to  the 
almost  impassable  road.  We  marched  slowly  and  made  but  fifteen 
miles  that  day,  halting  at  nine  in  the  evening,  about  six  miles 
beyond  Townsville,  where  in  soldier  phrase,  we  "  fooled  around" 
for  about  an  hour  before  a  practicable  camping  spot  could  be  found. 
After  a  night's  sleep  in  the  mud  we  pushed  on  at  eight  in  the  morn 
ing,  crossing  the  Fredericksburg  turnpike  and  taking  the  road  to 
Stafford  Court  House,  halting  before  dark  upon  a  good  camping- 
ground,  with  wood  and  water,  the  latter  especially,  in  abundance. 
The  rain  still  continued,  and  the  roads  were  so  bad  that  a  distance 
of  but  fourteen  miles  had,  with  much  difficulty,  been  accomplished 
this  day.  The  baggage  trains  were  mired  with  the  artillery  miles 
behind,  and  our  officers,  who  were  thus  without  tents,  were  fain 
to  accept  the  hospitalities  of  us  "dromedaries"  or  pass  the  night 


TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT.  321 

indifferently,  or  worse,  with  no  shelter  but  their  independence  and 
no  couch  but  the  oozy  earth  and  their  dignity. 

Next  morning-  at  ten,  we  again  moved  on,  and  still  it  rained. 
Our  General  had  selected  a  camping  ground  a  few  miles  farther, 
and  there  we  halted,  passed  the  night  near  a  swamp  in  which  our 
trains  were  stuck  fast,  while  the  rain  still  came  down  in  torrents, 
and  in  the  morning,  once  more  planted  our  camp,  this  time  upon  a 
hill  side  where  the  ground  presented  at  least  an  appearance  of 
firmness,  and  erected  our  slight  defensive  works  against  the  rain 
and  cold ;  this  time,  as  we  expected  to  remain  some  days,  adding  a 
further  protection  in  the  shape  of  roughly  improvised  walls  of  logs, 
twigs  and  bark. 

Next  day,  Friday,  November  2ist,  it  stopped  raining,  and  we 
once  more  had  the  usual  parade  at  evening.  But  our  expectation 
of  remaining  at  least  a  short  time  in  comparative  comfort,  was 
rudely  dispelled  on  the  following  morning,  by  a  sudden  order  to 
move  immediately  for  Brooks'  Station,  on  the  Acquia  Creek  Rail 
road,  about  six  miles  from  Fredericksburg. 

We  lay  at  Brooks'  Station  a  little  more  than  two  weeks, 
employing  the  time  in  making  ourselves  comfortable,  for  the  weather 
had  grown  very  cold  and  rainy — drilling,  and  awaiting  develop 
ments  at  the  front,  where  our  picket  lines  confronted  the  enemy's 
at  the  Rappahannock.  The  roads  were  in  a  horrible  condition,  and 
a  part  of  the  time  the  troops  in  advance  were  on  half  rations,  in 
consequence  of  the  difficulty  of  getting  supplies  to  them.  Our  own 
condition  was  bad  enough,  with  no  covering  but  the  little  shelter 
tents,  eked  out  by  such  contrivances  as  our  ingenuity  enabled  us  to 
construct  with  very  limited  material.  On  the  27th,  Thursday, 
General  Patrick  gave  us  a  visit  and  was  affectionately  welcomed  ; 
even  though  the  opportunity  involved  a  lecture,  which  was  listened 
to  with  exemplary  attention  by  the  assembled  brigade.  On  the 
same  day — happy  event — the  Paymaster  arrived,  and  the  first  money 
we  had  received  for  nearly  seven  months,  was  dealt  out  to  us  by 
him  on  the  next.  It  came  most  opportunely,  for  even  the  most 
provident  had  long  since  wholly  exhausted  their  little  reserve  of 
"tobacco  money." 

The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  written  two  days  before 
this  event,  by  Chaplain  Robie. 

"A  good  deal  of  interest  gathers  around  Fredericksburg  just 
now.  We  are  only  six  miles  distant,  and  expect  every  moment  to 
hear  the  terrible  artillery  open.  A  large  rebel  force  is  on  the 


322  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

opposite  side  of  the  river,  in  plain  view  of  our  columns,  and  soon  a 
collision  must  take  place.  If  we  are  to  be  engaged  again,  I  am 
pleased  that  the  conflict  will  be  no  farther  off  from  the  capital.  But, 
Oh,  the  thought  of  another  battle  !  I  have  seen  and  heard  so  much 
that  even  the  thought  is  frightful.  But  if  it  comes,  God  be  praised, 
that  there  will  be  some  who  will  not  shrink  from  any  duty 
connected  with  it. 

"  Marshall  Tryon  met  with  a  fearful  accident  a  few  days  since. 
He  fell  from  a  wagon  and  both  wheels  passed  over  his  body.  It  is 
a  wonder  he  was  not  killed.  He  is  now  improving  fast. 

"  A  soldier  by  the  name  of  Bettenger  is  quite  sick  in  the 
hospital.  I  don't  think  he  can  live." 

Our  Chaplain  went  to  Washington  on  the  Monday  following, 
for  the  purpose  of  forwarding  the  money  the  boys  desired  to  send 
home.* 

Our  history  now  approaches  the  last  of  those  sanguinary 
struggles  on  Virginia  soil,  which  marked  the  year  1862,  as  one  of 
the  costliest  in  human  life  of  the  five,  during  which,  forward  and 
backward  swayed  the  tide  of  battle,  and  the  victor  of  to-day  was 
the  vanquished  and  the  fugitive  of  to-morrow ;  the  last,  and  which 
was  to  leave  us  with  no  offset  of  success  for  the  reverses  of  summer 
and  autumn,  wiping  off  the  bloody  score  of  Antietam,  and  adding 
one  more  to  the  number  ol  cruel  reverses  which  our  gallant  little 
army  had  endured.  What  if  its  hard  marched,  hard  fought,  hard 
used  and  too  often  unworthily  commanded  ranks,  fought  often  a 
hard  fight  with  hope,  against  despair  and  the  demoralizing  elements 
which  stood  ever  ready  to  prompt  the  weak  and  weary  in  their 
despondent  hours. 

But  at  the  time  of  which  I  write,  a  period  concerning  which  I 
have  been  able  to  gather  but  too  little  record,  all  other  feeling  was 
merged  in  hopeful  preparation  for  a  dubious  encounter  with  a  foe, 
whose  well  known  valor  gave  no  ground  for  vaunting  expectation, 
much  less  for  the  easy  self  assured  confidence  of  victory  with  which 
we  had  too  often  approached  him. 

On  the  morning  of  December  4th,  orders  were  received  to 
march,  but  before  the  hour  arrived  they  were  countermanded. 
However,  this  not  unusual  delay  gave  us  plenty  of  time  to  prepare. 


*  This  extract  from  a  Buffalo  paper  shows  how  our  boys  remembered  their  families  : 
"MONEY  FROM  THE  TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. — Wm    B.  Peck,  of  the  American  Express 
Co.,  has  received  from  the  members  of  the  Twenty-First  Regiment,  the  sum  of  $12,481.75,  to  be  paid 
to  relatives  here.     This  is  indeed    handsome,   and    shows    that   the    men    are    not   unmindful   of  the 
necessities  of  those  dependent  upon  them  at  home." 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  323 

Next  day  began  in  rain  storm,  which  changed  in  the  afternoon  to 
snow,  with  a  corresponding  fall  of  temperature,  and  the  boys 
recognized  the  fact  that  winter  had  indeed  come,  a  fact  more 
apparent  still  on  the  succeeding  morning,  when  they  woke  to  find 
everything  covered  with  snow  to  a  depth  of  several  inches.  Two 
of  the  half  starved  horses  of  our  train,  were  stark  and  stiff,  as  is 
feelingly  chronicled  by  a  disconsolate,  whose  future  hard-tack  he 
knew  must  often  depend  upon  the  too  uncertain  ability  of  "  them 
wagons  "  to  keep  their  places. 

On  the  6th,  Colonel  Rogers  returned,  and  all  were  delighted 
to  see  him  again  in  improved  health.  His  arrival  was  especially 
opportune,  as  whisperings  and  rumors  were  rife  of  a  contemplated 
grand  move  shortly,  to  be  followed  by  a  grand  battle ;  and  who,  of 
all  who  might  lead  worthily,  and  with  honor  to  themselves  and  the 
regiment,  could  lead  our  column  so  well,  and  be  so  well  followed  as 
he  who  so  oft  had  calmly  eyed  his  line  in  the  battle's  front, 
seemingly  a  charmed  life,  and  all  consciousness  of  self  lost  in  his 
solicitude  for  his  regiment's  honor  and  efficiency. 

On  Tuesday,  December  gth,  in  weather  miserably  cold,  mud 
deep,  and  a  disheartening  state  of  things  generally,  our  boys  again 
pulled  up  their  tent  stakes,  and  concentrating  as  much  as  possible 
their  worldly  effects,  again  "padded  their  hoofs."  The  direction 
and  supposed  destination  of  the  march  was  Potomac  Creek. 
Chaplain  Robie  has  kindly  loaned  me  his  short-hand  diary,  a  gem 
of  its  kind,  with  its  terse  laconic  wording  and  compact  hieroglyphics, 
albeit  some  of  the  good  Doctor's  "  pot-hooks  and  hangers  "  are 
somewhat  of  a  puzzle,  and  from  it  I  shall  hereafter  glean  extensively. 
Of  this  day's  march,  he  says  : 

"  We  moved  to-day  about  four  miles.  The  weather  is  not 
pleasant,  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow,  and  it  is  somewhat  cold. 
The  snow  and  mud  made  it  very  unpleasant  for  the  boys.  Late  in 
the  afternoon  we  encamped  in  the  open  woods,  as  usual,  nearly  a 
mile  from  the  road.  I  marched  to-day  on  foot,  '  Old  Bones,'  having 
died  from  mere  starvation  some  three  days  since.  Am  now  tired ; 
and,  seated  under  a  little  pine,  I  am  ruminating  upon  this  most 
unfortunately  conducted  war." 

Here  our  good  Chaplain's  indignation  must  have  reached  high 
pressure,  for  not  even  short-hand  seems  to  have  been  a  rapid  enough 
means  of  expression,  so  we  will  skip  to — 

Wednesday,  December  10. — "  Our  night's  sleep  was  somewhat 
peculiar,  as  the  winter's  snow  is  upon  us.  We  are  encamped  on  a 


324  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

side  hill  in  an  open  forest.  Our  staff  tents  not  coming  up,  we  were 
compelled  to  take  to  the  ground,  and  as  it  was  covered  with  snow 
we  resorted  to  the  expedient  of  strewing  upon  it  the  boughs  of  the 
pine  and  fir.  Over  these  we  spread  our  blankets,  and  making  a 
fire,  we  tried  to  sleep.  The  Colonel,  Adjutant  and  myself  were 
together.  The  two  found  a  little  sleep,  but,  poor  me,  I  was 
obliged  to  pass  a  wakeful  night.  It  was  cold,  and  I  was  nervous. 
It  was  also  hard  on  the  Colonel,  for  this  morning  he  looks  and 
feels  unwell. 

"  The  march  to-day  has  been  pleasant,  may  be  about  four 
miles  (bringing  us  to  the  neighborhood  of  our  old  'Camp  Rufus 
King  '),  which  I  walked. 

"  It  is  said  we  are  to  have  a  fight  soon,  perhaps  to-morrow.  We 
shall  see.  Our  camp  for  to-day  is  very  pleasant,  being  laid  out  in 
a  pine  wood  ;  it  is  clean  and  the  sun  shines  softly  in  among  the  trees. 
We  anticipate  a  delightful  afternoon.  But  now  an  order  comes  for 
soldiers  on  detached  service  to-morrow  in  crossing  the  river  f" 

Tuesday,  December  nth,  1862. — "Memorable  day  with  us! 
The  terrible  preparations  continued  pretty  much  all  night.  The 
first  cannon  was  fired  at  ten  minutes  of  five  o'clock,  and  was  followed 
by  another ;  then  a  silence  till  a  quarter  of  six  o'clock. '  Now  the 
regiment  is  ready ;  we  are  awaiting  orders ;  the  boys  are  handing 
me  their  money. 

"It  is  now  half-past  six-o'clock.  For  half  an  hour  the 
cannonading  has  been  terribly  incessant.  We  are  located  about  two 
miles  from  where  the  firing  is  going  on,  waiting  for  orders  to  move. 
The  thunder  of  the  artillery  appears  to  silence  the  whole  camp. 
Our  Colonel  sits,  while  I  write,  in  a  pensive  and  reflective  state, 
meditating  no  doubt,  the  solemn  responsibilities  which  await  him. 
Around  him  are  gathered  many  others  silent  and  thoughtful." 

And  now,  at  a  little  after  eight,  while  tremendous  peals  shock 
earth  and  sky  as  if  to  discourage  their  movement  with  threatening 
omen,  our  little  regiment  moves  forward  to  the  river,  while  the 
Chaplain,  who  as  a  non-combatant  will  not  be  permitted  to  cross 
with  them,  takes  his  way  to  the  nearest  possible  potnt  of  view,  from 
which  to  see  the  operations  of  both  armies ;  and  as  his  experiences 
for  this  day  are,  perhaps,  of  more  interest  and  certainly  more 
available  than  those  of  the  little  band  quietly  waiting  at  the  river 
bank  their  opportunity  to  cross,  we  will  go  with  him. 

1 '  I  left  camp  with  Private  P ,  at  half-past  eight,  and  we 

slowly  wended  our  way  towards  the  Phillips  House,  just  opposite  the 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  325 

city.  The  fog  and  smoke  were  so  intense  that  at  first  we  could  see 
nothing  plainly,  but  as  the  sun  comes  forth  warmly  they  seem 
momently  to  break  and  lift.  On  our  way  we  passed  vast  bodies  of 
cavalry  drawn  up  in  line,  probably  awaiting  the  opportunity  to  go 
over ;  also,  immense  numbers  of  infantry,  and  as  for  artillery,  there 
is  no  computing  the  force.  It  is  everywhere,  and  probably  just 
where  it  should  be.  The  reports  of  the  artillery  are  awful.  I  can 
only  compare  it  to  the  breaking  of  a  terrific  thunder  storm,  when  one 
expects  every  moment  the  great  drops  of  rain  to  follow. 

But,  alas !  the  shower  that  must  follow  this  is  such  as.  the  sky 
never  \veeps,  and  as  for  this  snowy  earth,  to-morrow,  there  will 
not  be  rain  enough  in  the  heavens  to  wash  it  white  again. 

"Now  a  tremendous  crash  breaks  forth,  a  little  nearer  than 
before  ;  the  fog  has  not  yet  lifted  from  the  river,  but  the  sun  is 
brilliant  and  warm. 

"  At  ten  o'clock  opens  one  of  the  most  terrific  cannonadings 
mortal  ever  heard.  It  is  tremendous,  and  awfully  incessant  It 
seems  as  though  the  fiery  artillery  of  heaven  were  all  opened  upon 
the  devoted  city  on  the  other  side.  Never  was  a  scene  of  such 
grandeur  opened  to  my  mind  and  eyes. 

"  It  is  now  twelve  o'clock.  For  an  hour  and  a  half  there  has 
been  quite  a  lull,  with  only  an  occasional  shot  now  and  then.  No 
pontoons  are  yet  up  or  over  the  river,  but  they  will  soon  cross.  Just 
where  I  now  sit,  on  the  railroad,  a  dozen  men  are  busy  making- 
coffins,  a  pile  of.  which  are  completed.  Sad  spectacle.  Before  night 
many  a  poor  fello\v  will  want  a  coffin. 

' '  I  have  just  had  a  complete  view  of  the  city  from  a  hill.  The 
fog  and  smoke  have  almost  entirely  disappeared.  The  city  is  on  fire 
in  six  places  ;  in  two  the  fires  seem  extensive.  I  think  the  tower  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  has  been  shelled  off.  This  is  the  first  view  I 
have  had  of  the  town  since  I  returned.  It  must  have  been  terribly 
shattered  by  the  fire  of  this  morning.  I  shall  soon  go  over  and  see 
for  myself. 

"  Now  at  three,  the  firing  has  ceased  and  no  effect  is  yet  appar 
ent  but  the  burning  of  the  buildings.  Now  it  begins  again,  but  from 
what  point  I  cannot  tell,  as  there  are  no  rebels  in  sight,  and  from  all 
appearance,  might  not  be  five  hundred  within  ten  miles  of  this  spot. 

' '  Evening  ;  and  all  is  still  but  for  the  '  retreat '  heard  to  reverberate 
among  those  sunset  hills.  But  I  hear  a  shout  from  the  multitude. 
It  is  caused,  I  learn,  from  the  fact  that  one  of  the  bridges  is  completed, 
and  a  few  of  our  men  have  crossed.  If  so,  we  may  expect  a  move- 


326  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

ment  of  interest  to-morrow.      God  be  praised  that  we  have  been 
preserved  this  day." 

The  chief  object  of  the  cannonading  on  this  clay  seems  to  have 
been  to  protect  the  men  working  upon  the  pontoons.  According  to 
the  published  reports,  this  was  found  a  task  too  difficult  for  our 
batteries,  the  rebel  sharpshooters  holding  their  ground  defiantly 
among  the  buildings  skirting  the  river,  and  even,  at  times,  actually 
driving  every  man  of  the  pontoniers  from  his  work  ;  and  it  was  not 
accomplished  until  the  boats  were  filled  with  a  force  of  volunteers 
who  crossed  in  the  face  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  charging  up  into  the 
town  soon  drove  them  back  to  the  hills.  It  will  be  seen  from  the 
Chaplain's  report,  that  the  rebel  force  at  this  place  was  generally 
supposed  to  be  small.  Far  from  being  the  case  was  this,  so  far  that 
at  any  time  a  force  might  easily  have  been  spared  from  it  sufficient  to 
have  made  the  crossing  an  impossibility.  Little  did  our  men,  or  their 
brave  but  unfortunate  leader,  dream  of  the  snare  their  terrible  enemy 
had  set,  and  which  they  were  so  anxious  to  walk  into. 

Burnside's  plan  of  operations  on  leaving  Warrenton, — as  detailed 
by  himself  before  the  "  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War,"- 
was  to  move  rapidly  down  the  river  to  Fredericksburg,  having 
induced  the  enemy  to  mass  its  forces  in  the  vicinity  of  Gordonsville, 
and  maintaining  a  threatening  front  on  that  quarter  until  the  last 
moment.  At  Fredericksburg  he  expected  to  find  pontoons  and 
every  requisite  for  immediate  progress  toward  Richmond,  having 
given  timely  notice  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  at  Washington,  and 
received  the  assurance  that  all  necessary  orders  had  been  given  for 
the  accomplisment  of  these  preparations.  What  then  was  his  surprise 
on  reaching  that  point  to  find  no  pontoons  ;  what  his  annoyance  as 
golden  hours  and  days  passed  and  they  did  not  come,  and  when 
finally,  by  devious  routes  and  long,  they  did  arrive,  the  certain  basis 
of  his  plan  was  gone  ;  nothing  remained  but  to  blind  the  enemy  if 
possible  to  his  real  point  of  attack,  and  strike  him  before  his  lines 
could  form. 

Of  his  forebodings  at  this  time,  Burnside  himself  speaks  freely. 
Even  his  despatches  to  Halleck  \vere  plainly  ominous  of  the  hopeless 
ness  of  the  undertaking.  Still,  a  council,  and  more  than  one  council, 
of  his  Generals  was  in  favor  of  crossing.  The  die  was  cast.  How 
our  army  fought ;  how  they  charged  those  hillsides  as  if  to  die  there 
were  the  summit  of  earthly  desire  ;  how  again  and  again  they  faced 
those  walls  of  stone,  and  built  ghastly  ones  of  their  own  bodies  where 
the  fire  was  too  fierce  for  anything  living  to  stand  before,  hath  been 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  327 

often  told.     Hooker  said  it  was,  at  that  time,  the  fiercest  battle  of  the 
war. 

Our  Regiment  lay,  this  night,  just  within  musket  range  of  the 
river,  awaiting  orders  to  cross.  Nearly  the  whole  of  Franklin's  grand 
division,  destined  to  form  the  left  wing  of  next  day's  line  of  battle, 
crossed  at  sunset.  Reynolds'  corps,  of  which  our  division,  com 
manded  by  Doubleday,  formed  a  part,  belonging  to  the  extreme  left 
of  the  grand  division.  Colonel  Rogers  was  in  command  of  the 
brigade,  leaving  the  regiment  in  command  of  the  senior  Captain, 
Layton.  The  night  was  uneventful. 

On  the  1 3th,  Saturday,  at  about  eight  o'clock,  having  been  in 
line  since  daylight,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  take  the  lead  in  the 
morning's  work,  by  moving  directly  to  the  left,  parallel  with  the  main 
position  of  the  enemy,  and  toward  the  point  where  his  line  formed  an 
angle  connecting  the  main  line  with  the  river.  At  the  same  time  a 
steadily  increasing  din  from  the  right  betokened  the  commencement 
of  general  hostilities.  A  ravine  was  passed  on  the  left,  and  then  the 
regiment  paused  at  a  fence  which  fronted  the  line,  and  waited  until 
another  force,  Meredith's  brigade,  could  pass  our  left  and  drive  out 
the  enemy  from  a  good  flanking  position  which  he  held  in  the  woods 
along  the  river. 

The  artillery  of  the  enemy  was  now  playing  upon  us  with  terrific 
energy,  and  this  exposed  position  gave  us  little  choice  of  standing 
places.  But  the  brigade  on  our  left  soon  does  its  work,  and  does  it 
nobly,  and  then  we  mount  the  fence,  and,  still  in  line  of  battle,  again 
move  forward.  Half  through  the  field  and  an  order  overtakes  us  to 
change  front  to  the  right  and  dislodge  a  force  of  the  enemy  from 
behind  a  fence  upon  the  Bowling  Green  road.  The  order  came  just 
as  our  right  had  almost  reached  a  shallow  ravine  which  cut  it 
diagonally,  and  in  the  shelter  of  this  the  movement  was  successfully 
made,  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  and  then  upon  the  run  our  boys 
charged  up  the  road,  reaching  it  just  in  time  to  hasten  the  disappear 
ance  of  the  line  of  flying  rebels  by  a  well  directed  volley  in  their  rear, 
which  caused  the  final  disappearance  of  a  few  of  them  and  seriously 
demoralized  sundry  others. 

This  gained  a  position  for  our  batteries,  a  line  of  which  were 
immediately  in  position  along  the  road.  And  here,  with  hardly  a 
change  of  position,  during  the  remainder  of  the  clay,  while  the 
batteries  hurled  either  way  their  iron  compliments  above  our  heads, 
we  lay,  part  of  the  time  inactive  but  not  uninterested  spectators  of  a 
tragedy  in  which  we  were  taking  a  much  larger  part  than  was  at  all 


328  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

agreeable  under  the  circumstances,  seeing  that  part  consisted  chiefly 
in  dodging  the  aforesaid  compliments,  without  the  privilege  mentioned 
by  the  old  jack  tar  who  preferred  the  Church  of  England  service  to 
all  others,  because  he  could  "jaw  back." 

Our  regiment  on  this  day  was  singularly  fortunate,  for  although 
occupying  as  exposed  a  position  as  any  in  that  part  of  the  field,  it 
lost  but  one  man,  who  was  struck  in  the  back  of  the  neck,  while 
sitting  in  the  ditch,  by  a  fragment  of  shell,  which  passed  through  his 
body  and  dropped  in  his  open  hands,  which  were  crossed  with  his 
musket  upon  his  lap.  He  never  moved.  A  force  of  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters 'flanked  the  road  upon  the  left,  at  long  range,  and  were 
continually  sweeping  it  with  their  rifles.  Gayer  Gardner,  Sergeant 
of  "B"  (afterward  Lieutenant),  was  severely  wounded  by  these 
fellows,  and  several  others  were  hit,  with  various  degrees  of  damage 
to  their  under  and  upper  integuments. 

One  fellow  the  boys  will  never  forget  He  was  perched  up 
somewhere  among  the  hills  with  a  rifle  of  unheard  of  range.  It  was 
long  before  the  boys  could  believe  that  the  shots  came  from  the 
neighborhood  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  But  it  was  certain  that  in 
that  direction  there  was  no  other  shelter  for  him.  The  fellow  must 
have  whittled  down  a  small  columbiad  and  mounted  in  with  a  telescope 
powerful  enough  to  show  the  town  lines  on  the  moon,  for  no  sooner  did 
any  of  our  officers  give  him  the  faintest  show  of  a  mark,  then  ' '  ping 
a  little  joker  of  a  bullet  would  hum  past  him,  like  a  June  bug  on  a 
summer  night,  just  as  blindly  heedless  of  any  obstruction  and  careless 
of  consequences.  Not  a  General  writh  his  staff,  not  a  group  of  field 
or  line  officers  could  for  a  long  time  enjoy  a  comfortable  reconnoissance 
upon  that  part  of  the  field.  At  last  one  of  our  ' '  chippies  ' '  went  out 
after  him.  Chippie  disappeared  like  his  namesake  chipmunk  along 
the  fences  and  hollows,  and  Mr.  Reb.  was  a  marked  man.  By  and 
by  there  was  a  sharp,  quick  report,  and  that  was  the  last  of  our 
persecutor. 

Meredith,  who  had  clone  so  well  in  the  morning,  had  been 
directed  to  hold  his  position,  parallel  with  ours  and  farther  to  the 
left,  until  dusk,  then  to  draw  back  his  main  force  and  leave  but  a 
skirmish  line  to  hold  his  present  position.  All  day  a  rebel  battery 
had  lain  perdu  in  a  hollow  before  him,  and  just  where  the  road  on 
our  left  took  a  turn  toward  the  river.  A  whole  brigade  of  rebels  lay 
beside  the  guns,  but  too  low  to  be  seen,  and  the  guns  were  not 
worked,  only  we  knew  they  were  there.  This  ground  was  as  yet 
unfelt  ;  we  did  not  know  the  strength  of  the  supporting  force,  and 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  329 

one  of  our  officers,  with  perhaps  more  valor  than  discretion,  actually 
proposed  to  take  a  couple  of  companies  and  bring  in  the  pieces  ; 
thinking  that  force  sufficient  to  quiet  any  objections  the  custodians  of 
said  pieces  might  naturally  make.  A  detail  of  four  companies  was 
accordingly  made,  but  happily,  before  they  had  gone  too  far  on  their 
perilous  errand,  it  occurred  to  our  commanding  officer  to  ask  Captain 
Reynolds  *  to  pitch  a  few  shells  into  the  hollow,  when  lo  !  up  rose  a 
mass  of  men  in  gray,  enough  to  have  eaten  the  handful  who  proposed 
to  ' '  fetch  in  the  pieces. ' '  Of  course  they  ' '  got  back  ' '  much  relieved, 
no  doubt,  at  being  repulsed  with  so  small  a  loss. 

From  some  unaccountable  reason  Meredith  did  not  wrait  until 
dark,  as  ordered,  but  fell  back  at  about  six.  This  was  a  false  move 
on  the  board  and  a  bad  one  for  us,  for  now,  no  longer  in  check,  out 
trundled  the  howitzers,  and  in  ten  minutes  their  grape  and  cannister 
were  rattling  and  pattering  with  fearful  uncertainty  all  around. 

Long  after  dark,  for  this  road  must  be  held  at  any  cost,  those 
awful  flutterings  in  the  air  above,  like  myriad  winged  flocks  of 
ominous  flight,  made  our  poor  fellows  hug  the  closer  to  their  damp 
couches.  Luckily,  nearly  every  discharge  was  too  high  ;  the  uneven- 
ness  of  the  ground  favored  us  somewhat,  and  nearly  every  man  had 
erected  his  knapsack  barricade  against  the  dangerous  point,  planted 
his  head  close  behind  and  carefully  marking  the  line  of  fire,  made  his 
body  and  heels  exactly  correspond  thereto.  Here,  as  in  most  other 
situations,  the  long  men  were  at  a  decided  disadvantage,  and  doleful 
were  the  glances  down  unwieldy  extensions  of  army  blue  and  cowhide, 
so  much  in  the  way,  yet  not  to  be  disposed  of,  and  as  yet  entirely 
unavailable  as  a  means  of  extrication  from  this  embarrassing 
predicament. 

But  the  fatigues  of  the  day  made  sleep  a  necessity,  and  all  but 
the  pickets  slept ;  slept  the  sleep  of  the  tired  soldier  to  whom  danger 
is  an  accustomed  bedfellow.  Only  once  during  the  night  were  they 
disturbed,  and  that  was  by  the  arrival  of  our  own  Quartermaster  with 
rations,  and  their  consequent  distribution. 

Thus  ended  the  first  day's  fight.  For  the  dangers  of  the  night, 
we  had  only  Meredith  to  thank.  He  was,  in  consequence,  placed 
under  arrest,  relieved  from  command  and  sent  across  the  river. 

Morning  came  at  last,  but  only  fitful  and  uncertain  attempts 
were  made  to  renew  the  battle.  As  if  by  mutual  consent  the  day  was 
one  of  rest,  except  for  an  occasional  rattle  of  small  arms  along  some 

*Chief  of  Artillery,  left  grand  Division. 


330  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

skirmish  line,  or  the  roar  of  single  discharges  of  cannon,  followed  by 
the  rush,  or  screech,  or  flutter  of  the  shell — according  to  the  make  of 
the  missile — and  its  terminating  explosion.  The  general  opinion  was 
that  we  were  to  advance.  We  knew  that  our  army  on  the  right  and 
center  had  been  badly  used,  and  suffered  terrible  loss,  but  no  one  yet 
seemed  willing  to  admit  the  failure. 

The  day  was  delightfully  sunny  and  warm,  although  hazy. 
Several  times  a  flag  of  truce  came  over  from  the  enemy's  lines,  and 
while  hostilities  were  thus  ceremoniously  suspended  upon  that  part 
of  the  field,  the  men  of  the  two  armies  met  in  neighborly  intercourse 
between  the  lines,  no  advantage  being  taken  on  either  side,  but  to 
exchange  their  sentiments  relative  to  the  war — all  agreeing  in  wishing 
it  were  over — and  by  our  boys  in  exchanging  coffee  and  rations  for 
whiskey  and  tobacco,  a  barter  the  rebs  always  proposed  and  eagerly 
consummated.  Our  boys  asked  after  the  man  with  the  telescope 
rifle.  "Oh!  he's  dead,  some  one  of  your  fellows  fetched  him 
yesterday."  So  here  was  Chippie's  shot  accounted  far,  and  probably 
he  never  expended  one  to  better  purpose. 

So  night  came  again.  It  was  very  dark,  and  after  the  quiet  of 
the  day  the  stillness  and  gloom  of  night  were  more  impressive  and 
melancholy.  The  chief  duty  of  the  day  had  been  the  interment  of 
our  dead,  all  over  the  field,  those  who  had  been  instantly  killed  or 
had  died  under  primary  operations  in  the  Surgeon's  hands.  The 
wounded  had  been  sent  in  ariibulances  across  the  river  as  fast  as  they 
could  be  got  to  the  rear.  Again,  during  this  night,  our  position  was 
swept  by  the  enemy's  artillery,  but  our  regiment  lost  no  men, 
although  all  voted  it  a  "  hot  place, ' '  and  the  grape  shot  did  fall  thick 
and  fast. 

Monday  morning  came,  and  again  the  skirmishers  began  their 
intermittent  fusilade,  again  the  artillery  sent  its  deadly  reports 
echoing  along  hill  and  hollow,  and  the  rush  and  wail  of  deadly  shot 
and  shell  proclaimed  the  renewal  of  this  awful  strife.  This  day,  all 
along  the  line  the  dreadful  carnage  on  the  right  and  center,  and  their 
failure  to  carry  any  of  the  strongholds  opposed  to  them,  became  fully 
known.  Soldiers  are  quick  at  seeing  and  estimating  the  advantage 
or  disadvantage  of  any  position,  and  our  veterans  were  not  slow  in 
comprehending  this  one.  Fully  alive  to  the  danger  of  defeat,  and  the 
almost  impossibility  of  recrossing  the  river  with  a  victorious  army  in 
our  rear,  they  waited  patiently  to  know  what  their  leaders  would 
have.  Meanwhile  an  unflinching  front  must  be  kept,  and  they  kept 
it.  It  might  be  that  our  comparatively  fresh  troops  on  the  left  could 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT. 


331 


carry  the  less  formidable  positions  in  their  front,  and  by  flanking  the 
enemy's  stronghold,  drive  him  from  it. 

Night  came,  and  again  our  boys  lay  on  their  arms.  The  general 
impression  was  that  the  morning  would  see  an  advance.  But  at 
about  nine  o'clock  word  was  passed  quietly  along  the  line  to  fall 
back,  leaving  a  slight  picket  line,  and  prepare  to  recross  the  river. 

Noiselessly  as  a  troop  of  ghosts,  so  noiselessly  that  the  enemy's 
pickets,  only  a  few  hundred  yards  away,  never  suspected  that  our 
shattered  columns  were  silently  niching  the  crown  of  their  hard  won 
triumph — grimly  and  sullenly  but  still  wary  and  watchful,  our 
decimated  regiments  recrossed  the  almost  fatal  river,  the  pickets  were 
drawn  in,  the  planking  taken  up,  pontoons  unmoored,  and  all  that 
remained  on  the  other  side  to  confront  the  victor,  were  the  new  made 
graves  where  thousands  slept  their  last  long  sleep  under  the 
bloody  sod. 


CHRONICLES     OF     THE 


CHAPTER    XX. 


Our  Army  retires  to  the  Potomac. —Xe\v  Year's  in  Camp. — We  move  to  Acquia  Creek. — Are 
Transferred  to  the  Command  of  General  Patrick,  Provost  Marshal  General. — Winter 
Quarters. — New  Duties. — Preparing  to  Muster  out. — Homeward  Bound. 


AND  so  at  length  our  active  part  in  the  last  campaign  of  sixty- 
two  was  ended,  and  the  veterans  of  our  much  enduring  little 
army  were  now  to  prepare  for  another  winter  before  Washington, 
instead  of  quartering  in  Richmond  as  they  had  hoped.  Discipline 
never  relaxed  its  hold,  nor  did  the  soldiers  manifest  any  ill  feeling  or 
disheartenment  in  any  way  or  manner,  except  in  the  legitimate  and 
perfectly  safe  one  o'f  grumbling.  They  grumbled  in  camp  and  on 
the  march,  when  rations  were  served,  and  when  they  had  to  go 
hungry,  at  the  frost  and  at  the  mud ;  in  fact  they  grumbled  much 
of  the  time,  and  but  for  this  safety  valve,  the  effects  of  the  late  disaster 
might  have  been  serious  to  the  morale  of  the  whole  army. 

Even  our  patient  Chaplain,  slow  to  anger  and  infinitely  trustful 
oi  the  Providence  over  us,  was  tempted  into  divers  and  sundry 
expressions  of  dissatisfaction,  if  not  of  absolute  impatience  at  the 
mismanagements,  delays  and  waste  of  the  country's  means  and  men. 

But  this  petulance  did  not  manifest  itself  immediately  after  their 
return  from  the  disastrous  field  of  Fredericksburg.  They  were  too 
grateful  for  the  escape  from  annihilation  they  had  so  barely  made. 
It  was  indeed  wonderful,  and  at  first  nearly  all  other  feeling  was 
merged  in  one  of  thankfulness.  The  Chaplain's  journal  will  better 
describe  the  days  following,  than  any  other  record  I  can  find. 

Tuesday,  December  i6th.  — "  As  I  anticipated,  a  retreat  had 
been  forced  upon  us.  Last  night,  in  most  complete  order,  the  troops 
and  trains  recrossed  the  river.  All  this  was  done  with  the  rebels 
expecting  the  move.  Why  they  did  not  scathe  us  is  a  wonder.  The 
morning  is  bright  and  clear,  though  the  rain  of  the  night  was  severe. 
Several  whizzing  balls  passed  my  head  just  before  I  left  the  trains,  a 
mile  or  more  from  the  river.  The  rebels  are  shelling  us  with  a  good 
deal  of  spirit,  and  with  an  aim  to  scare  us.  I  am  in  doubt  as  to  what 
will  be  done  to-day. 


TWENTY-FIRST    RKGIMKM  .  333 

"The  Twenty-First  has  returned  to  camp  from  one  of  the  most 
awful  exposures  it  has  ever  had,  and  has  lost  but  one  man,*  and  had 
three  wounded.  This  is  providential  indeed.  At  present  we  lie  in  a 
pine  wood.  The  evening  is  one  of  rest  with  us  all.  I  write  this  in 
the  Colonel's  tent,  in  front  of  the  fire  ;  the  Colonel,  lying  on  his  bed, 
is  half  asleep,  and  no  doubt  thinking  of  his  home  and  friends.  Now 
he  speaks,  and  what  says  he  ?  'I  could  go  into  this  battle  with  more 
choice  if  I  were  assured  my  wife  and  children  were  in  a  condition  to 
live  without  me.' 

"  Now  most  of  our  veterans  have  turned  in,  and  without  doubt 
are  thanking  God  that  they  have  been  spared  from  the  fierce  dangers 
to  which  they  have  been  exposed. 

Wednesday,  December  lyth. —  "After  the  wear  and  danger  of 
days,  our  boys  slept  well,  and  this  morning  appear  as  cheerful  as 
ever.  It  is  remarkable  how  soon  the  soldier  recovers  himself  from 
the  fatigue  of  days  and  weeks.  Sleep  and  care  are  good  restoratives. 

"At  ten  o'clock  we  moved  nearer  to  the  banks  of  the  river, 
within  full  view  of  the  rebels  on  the  other  side.  I  am  surprised  that 
we  are  thrown  in  such  an  exposed  situation.  Had  they  a  mind  they 
could  shell  us  from  where  we  lie  in  thirty  minutes.  The  morning  is 
bright  and  clear,  but  attended  with  a  bracing  cold  North  wind.  The 
view  of  the  other  side  is  here  the  finest  I  have  seen.  Every  object 
appears  as  distinct  as  though  it  were  only  a  few  rods  distant. 

Thursday,  i8th.  —  "No  movements,  and  no  news. 

Saturday,  2oth.  —  "At  nine  o'clock  we  moved  from  the 
Rappahannock,  and  marched  for  the  Potomac  ;  distant,  ten  miles. 
Our  present  location  is  about  one  mile  from  the  river,  near  a  place 
called  Hanes'  Landing.  We  are  on  the  extreme  left  and  our  line 
of  battle  now  extends  more  than  twenty  miles.  The  day  has  been 
very  cold,  more  intensely  so  than  on  any  march  we  have  ever  had. 
I  never  heard  so  much  complaining  ;  at  times  it  seemed  that  I  must 
freeze  my  face  and  ears.  The  march  was  well  accomplished,  witli 
some  delays,  however.  Having  no  horse  I  was  compelled  to  walk. 

' '  A  severe  night  is  before  us  officers,  for  the  teams  have  not  and 
will  not  come  up,  and  being  so  cold,  and  not  having  the  first  thing  to 
shelter  me,  I  know  not  what  to  do.  What  a  life  for  us  all  to  lead. 
There  is  a  good  deal  of  complaining. 

1 '  We  were  amused  a  good  deal  during  the  evening,  with  a  high 
cedar  tree  which  we  were  burning.  Its  branches  were  entangled  with 


^Corporal  Quinton,  of  Company  ''  I." 


334  CHRONICLES    OF    THE 

trees  around.  I  said  it  would  not  tumble  over  on  us,  while  the 
Colonel  contended  that  it  might.  It  finally  settled  down  straight. 

Sunday,  December  2ist.  —  "I  should  be  thankful,  and  will,  that 
this  present  day  finds  me  living  and  in  health  ;  and  may  the  God  of 
all  grace  grant  me  mercy  and  peace  this  day.  The  night  was  one 
of  great  wakefulness  and  uneasiness  with  me.  The  teams  did  not 
come  up,  so  I  had  no  blanket.  It  was  very  cold,  and  I  stretched 
myself  before  a  fire  and  sought  slumber,  but  none  came,  for  I  could 
not  save  myself  from  shivering  with  the  cold.  Such  a  life  is  totally 
unfit  for  me.  I  now,  more  than  ever,  feel  assured  I  can  do  these 
boys  no  spiritual  good  ;  a  good  example  is  all  I  can  set.  Situated  as 
we  are,  expecting  any  minute  to  move,  and  the  boys  eager  to  make 
themselves  comfortable,  it  is  difficult  to  think  of  devotion.  Our 
Sabbaths  are  much  like  other  days  ;  even,  I  have  sometimes  thought, 
more  labor  is  meted  out  to  the  boys  on  that  day  than  on  any  other. 

' '  Since  our  defeat  at  Fredericksburg,  my  confidence  in  the 
present  management  of  this  war  has  been  considerably  shaken.  Our 
Generals  are  not  the  right  men.  They  are  jealous  of  each  other,  and 
I  verily  believe  some  would  rather  see  a  battle  lost  than  have  another 
gain  it.  Such  rascals  ought  to  be  put  out  of  the  service  and  disgraced 
forever  before  the  American  people.  Hereafter,  when  most  of  them 
are  kno.wn,  I  hope  it  will  be  only  to  disgrace  them  still  more. 

Tuesday,  December  23d.  —  "Marched  this  day  four  miles,  still 
farther  up  the  Potomac,  to  near  Pratt1  s  Landing,  and  in  full  sight  of 
the  river.  The  day  is  very  beautiful.  Our  camp  is  on  a  hill  side, 
with  a  fine  prospect.  Now  appearances  indicate  that  we  shall  have 
winter  quarters,  or  an  approach  to  such  a  luxury. 

Christmas,  1862.  — "  The  day  has  been  charming,  conforming  in 
this  respect,  most  beautifully  with  the  character  of  the  scenery  here. 

"  Christmas,  the  birthday  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  the  world's 
Redeemer. 

' '  With  us,  it  has  been  attended  with  nothing  unusual.  The  boys 
have  worked  in  logging  up  their  tents  on  the  hill-side.  I  made  my 
Christmas  dinner  of  bean  soup,  with  hard-tack  crumbled  into  it,  and 
a  piece  of  quite  home-made  pie.  This,"  says  the  good  Chaplain,  lest 
he  should  seem  unreasonably  dainty,  "was  good  enough,  and  was 
partaken  with  a  relish.  Colonel  Rogers  and  myself,  after  our  repast, 
walked  out  and  took  a  view  of  the  rebel  force  not  far  from  our  camp, 
and  the  beautiful  prospect  of  the  landscape  and  river.  Such  a  sight 
is  seldom  seen  in  our  country. 

"The  evening  Was  spent  with   the  boys  in  their  tents,  and   in 


TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT.  335 

pleasant  conversation  with  them.      Thus  ends   another  Christmas  in 
the  army." 

The  regiment  lay  at  this  place  until  the  ninth  of  January,  when  it 
moved  to  Acquia  Creek,  in  compliance  with  the  following  order : 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  CAMP  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VA., 

January  6th,  1863. 

Special  Orders  No.  6. 

At  the  mutual  request  of  the  Brigader  Generals  concerned,  the  2ist,  23d,  35th 
and  8oth  (aoth  Militia)  Regiments,  of  New  York  State  Volunteers,  will  be  trans 
ferred  from  the  3d  Brigade,  1st  Division,  1st  Corps,  to  the  command  of  the  Provost 
Marshal  General  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  22d,  29th,  3Oth  and  3ist  New 
Jersey  Volunteers,  the  I37th  Pennsylvania  and  I47th  New  York  Volunteers,  now  on 
duty  with  the  Provost  Marshal  General,  will  be  transferred  to  the  3d  Brigade,  1st 
division,  1st  Corps,  Brigader  General  Paul  commanding. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Burnside. 

EDWARD  MCNEIL, 

Captain  and  A.  A.    General. 
Official : 

H.  P.  TAYLOR, 

Lieutenant  and  A,  A.  Getter al. 

The  following  is  from  a  Buffalo  paper  of  about  this  date  : 

FROM  THE  TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. — The  Twenty-First  Regiment,  as  we 
learn  from  Chaplain  Robie,  is  now,  with  the  brigade  attached,  ordered  on  detached 
service  and  is  acting,  in  fact,  in  the  honorable  capacity  of  Provost  Guard  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  is  stationed  at  Acquia  Creek.  The  brigade,  consisting 
of  six  regiments,  is  in  command  of  Colonel  Rogers.  We  are  indebted  to  Adjutant 
Gail  of  the  Twenty-First  for  a  copy  of  the  following  order,  in  which  Brigader  General 
Paul  takes  his  farewell  of  the  brigade  : 

HEADQUARTERS  30  BRIGADE,  IST  DIVISION  IST  A.  C. 
NEAR  BELLE  PLAIN,  January  8th,  1863. 

General  Orders  No.  4. 

The  order  which  separates  the  old  and  well  tried  regiments  of  this  brigade 
from  the  command  of  the  undersigned,  was  this  morning  received.  And  although 
scarcely  three  months  have  elapsed  since  he  was  assigned  to  the  command,  yet  the 
ties  which  have  been  formed,  will,  he  trusts,  bind  them  together  forever. 

With  fervent  wishes  for  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  all  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  old  war-worn  brigade,  he  bids  them  all  an  affectionate  farewell. 

G.  R.  PAUL, 
Brig.  Gen.   Vols.  Commanding. 


336  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

We  learn  also  that  Captain  P.  C.  Doyle,  of  the  Twenty-First,  has  been 
appointed  Colonel  Rogers'  Assistant  Adjutant  General.  The  following  order  which 
we  are  permitted  to  publish,  pays  this  officer  a  deserved  compliment : 

HEADQUARTERS  IST  ARMY  CORPS,  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
January  gth,  1863. 

Special  Orders  No.  7. 

Captain  Peter  C.  Doyle,  with  his  company,  is  relieved  from  duty  as  Provost 
Marshal  and  Guard,  and  will  at  once  report  to  the  headquarters  of  his  regiment. 

The  General  commanding  takes  this  opportunity  to  tender  his  thanks  to  Captain 
Doyle  and  his  company  for  the  very  efficient  manner  in  which  they  have  performed 
their  duties  while  at  these  headquarters. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Reynolds. 

C.  KINGSLEY,  JR., 

A.  A.  G. 

The  following-  letter  is  from  the  same  source.  The  writer  seems 
to  have  labored  under  a  slight  mistake  as  to  the  material  exchanged. 

THE  TWENTY- FIRST. — In  a  letter  from  a  member  of  the  Twenty-First  Regi 
ment,  dated  Acquia  Creek,  Jan.  loth,  and  published  in  the  Syracuse  Courier,  we  find 
the  following  paragraph : 

"  I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  our  brigade  being  taken  from  the  field.  The 
war-worn  brigade  is  almost  too  small  for  any  service,  and  we  are  doing  provost  duty 
at  Acquia  Creek;  we  are  on  guard  every  other  day,  and  it  is  pretty  tough  on  us,  but 
it  is  better  than  to  be  in  the  field.  We  are  back  again  with  our  old  fighting  General 
Patrick.  He  gave  six  full  regiments  for  our  four  decimated  ones,  regarding  the 
regulars  as  almost  worthless  compared  with  his  old  brigade.  He  placed  the  fullest 
confidence  in  his  old  command,  and  well  he  might,  for  they  have  fought  seven 
battles  under  him,  and  came  out  of  each  with  thinned  but  unbroken  ranks." 

The  months  following,  and  up  to  the  time  of  their  final  release 
from  service,  were  passed  by  the  boys  in  multifarious  employment, 
connected  with  the  responsible  and  arduous  duty  to  which  they  had 
been  assigned.  The  time  did  not  pass  uneventfully,  but  only  an  eye 
witness  could  describe  the  thousand  experiences  of  camp  life,  which 
are  often  among  the  pleasantest  the  soldier  has  to  look  back  upon. 
So  we  will  leave  those  to  be  the  sole  passport  of  their  participants, 
and  give  place  to  the  following  extract  from  a  description  of  a  visit  by 
some  BufTalonian,  whose  name  we  have  not,  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  which  was  published  in  the  Express  of  March  Qth,  1863  : 

THE  TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. — Reaching  Acquia  Creek  in  the  afternoon  of 
Tuesday,  the  24th  ult.,  on  board  the  government  steamer  John  Brooks,  we  stepped 
ashore  in  the  line  of  passengers,  filed  across  the  gang-plank  between  blue  coated 
guards,  and  thrust  our  "pass"  into  the  hands  of  a  pleasant  faced  but  peremptory 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  337 

inspecting  officer  stationed  in  the  path,  too  hurried  to  recognize  the  familiarity  of  the 
pleasant  face  until  we  found  ourselves  arrested  with  a  friendly  greeting,  and  welcomed 
by  a  voice  that  we  remembered  well,  but  could  not  for  a  moment  identify  with  our 
old  friend  of  the  Twenty-First,  Captain  Byron  Schermerhorn.  Luxurant  whiskers, 
and  a  robust  military  bronzing  of  the  complexion,  have  so  disguised  the  Captain's 
countenance  that  he  might  pass,  we  think,  incognito,  for  a  time  at  least,  in  almost 
any  company  of  the  friends  who  have  not  seen  him  within  the  year. 

Stepping  aside,  after  a  hasty  salutation,  to  permit  our  fellow  passengers  to 
satisfy  Captain  Schermerhorn  as  to  the  legitimate  authorization  of  their  visit  to  the 
sacred  soil,  we  were  confronted  in  the  next  instant  by  another  inspecting  officer  in 
the  person  of  Captain  Robert  Gardner,  whom  we  found  it  easy  to  convince,  by  the 
demonstration  of  a  cordial  hand-shake,  that  our  limited  luggage  contained  nothing 
contraband  of  war  or  dangerous  to  the  morale  of  the  army.  A  few  moments  later, 
the  scrutinizing  duties  of  Captain  Schermerhorn  and  Gardner  having  been  completed, 
we  were  escorted  by  them  to  headquarters,  and  found  ourselves  in  the  midst  of  a 
whole  host  of  old  Buffalo  friends,  and  fairly  overwhelmed  with  hospitable  greetings. 
Flow  generously  we  were  entertained,  and  how  pleasantly  we  spent  the  evening  in 
conversation  with  Colonel  Rogers,  Chaplain  Robie,  Chaplain  Cook,  of  the  94th — 
who  chanced  to  be  a  guest  of  the  regiment — and  most  of  the  officers,  who  gathered 
into  headquarters  from  various  duties  of  the  day,  it  would  be  quite  impossible  to 
describe. 

The  scene  of  this  evening  sociable  was  not,  as  may  be  imagined,  a  narrow 
apartment  of  canvas,  but  one  among  a  considerable  metropolis  of  rude  but  substantial 
edifices,  which  Uncle  Samuel  has  called  into  existance  at  Acquia  Landing  since 
making  it  the  base  of  supplies  for  his  grand  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Over  this 
extemporized  city  Colonel  Rogers  presides  with  autocratic  authority,  as  commander 
of  the  post,  and  of  the  brigade  there  stationed  on  provost  guard  and  patrol  duty. 
Most  of  the  officers  of  the  Twenty- First  are  detached  from  the  regiment,  and  imme 
diately  associated  with  the  Colonel  Commandant  in  various  provost  capacities. 
Captain  Gardner  has  the  general  superintendence  of  goods  passing  through  the 
warehouses  at  the  Landing,  and  exercises  strict  vigilance  in  detecting  and  confiscating 
everything  of  a  contraband  nature — especially  whiskey.  Captain  Wheeler  has  the 
charge  of  all  prisoners.  Captain  Schermerhorn,  Lieutenant  Beebee,  and  Lieutenant 
Govvans,  have  the  inspection  of  passes.  Captain  Adams  has  the  general  charge  of 
guard  duty.  Captain  Clinton  is  Acting  Commissary  of  Subsistence,  and  Acting 
Brigade  Quartermaster.  Captain  Doyle  is  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General  to 
Colonel  Rogers.  Major  Lee  is  detached  as  Inspector  General  of  Robinson's  Brigade. 
Captain  Myers  is  detached  on  special  police  duty  at  Cooksville,  nine  miles  up  the 
river,  looking  after  deserters,  etc.  Captain  Vallier  is  in  command  of  the  police  boat 
Osceola.  Lieutenant  Cook  has  command  of  a  patrol  guard.  Lieutenant  McMurray 
commands  a  guard  attending  the  trains  on  the  railroad  to  Falmouth,  and  Lieutenant 
McLeish  is  in  charge  of  a  prison  ship  anchored  opposite  the  Landing  in  the  Potomac. 

All  these  duties,  it  will  be  remarked,  are  of  a  somewhat  pleasanter  nature  than 
those  of  regimental  officers  in  camp.  The  quarters  enjoyed  at  the  Landing,  moreover, 
are  superior  in  comfort  to  the  tented  lodgings  of  the  army  in  front,  while  the  facilities 
for  obtaining  extra  supplies  give  our  fortunate  soldiers  of  the  Twenty-First  an 
enviable  advantage  over  the  majority  of  their  companions  in  arms.  Their  good 


338  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

fortune  has  been  well  earned  by  the  hardest  services  and  the  sternest  experiences  of 
war,  and  we  were  rejoiced  to  find  them  so  happily  circumstanced.  During  the 
evening  of  our  visit,  we  were  invited  to  partake  of  a  supper,  with  champagne  and 
other  vinous  accompaniments,  given  by  several  of  the  officers  on  duty  at  the  Landing 
to  the  officers  of  the  government  transport  steamer  Wilson  Small,  about  to  be  with 
drawn  from  the  route  between  Acquia  Creek  and  Washington.  The  occasion  was  a 
delightful  one,  and  we  enjoyed  its  festivities  heartily  ;  but  our  chief  pleasure  was  in 
witnessing  the  amenity  of  a  soldier's  life  that  has  heretofore  been  so  full  of  hardship 
and  peril  and  suffering. 

The  camp  of  the  regiment  is  situated  about  a  mile  back  from  the  landing,  and 
we  unfortunately  had  not  time  to  visit  it.  We  learned  that  its  situation  was  a 
comfortable  one,  and  that  the  health  of  the  regiment  was  excellent,  only  ten  being, 
at  present,  on  the  sick  list  in  the  camp  hospital.  Surgeon  Johnson  was  highly  spoken 
of  for  his  assiduous  devotion  to  the  sanitary  interests  of  the  men  under  his  care. 
The  aggregate  strength  of  the  regiment,  including  officers,  is  now  only  495?  present 
and  absent;  reported  for  duty,  351  ;  on  extra  or  daily  duty,  34.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sternberg  is  in  command. 

There  are  few  officers  immediately  with  the  regiment,  a  majority  being  detached 
on  special  duties,  as  related  above.  To  this  fact  we  must  undoubtedly  attribute  the 
unfortunate  show  which,  since  our  return,  we  have  been  surprised  to  see  the  Twenty- 
First  make  in  the  inspection  report  from  General  Hooker's  headquarters.  So  many 
officers  having  been  withdrawn  from  the  care  and  supervision  of  the  regiment  for 
several  weeks,  we  can  believe  that  it  may  have  deteriorated  in  appearance  ;  but  that 
it  has  really  lost  discipline  or  efficiency,  to  any  extent,  we  do  not  credit.  Our 
impression,  from  all  that  we  saw  and  heard,  was  decidedly  to  the  contrary.* 

The  main  topic  of  conversation  in  the  Twenty-First,  is  the  expected  return 
home  next  May.  All  are  anticipating  the  expiration  of  the  two  years'  term  of  service 
with  an  eargerness  which  counts  the  very  hours.  It  is  supposed  that  the  term  must 
measure  from  the  date  at  which  the  regiment  was  sworn  into  the  service  of  the  State, 
and  this,  we  believe,  will  bring  its  expiration  about  the  tenth  of  May.  Two  months 


*THK  TWENTY-FIRST  REGIMENT. — We  are  gratified  to  learn  by  the  following  extract  from  a 
letter  written  by  an  officer  in  the  Twenty-First  Regiment  and  published  in  the  Coiirier,  that  the 
opinion  we  expressed  on  Alonday  with  reference  to  the  charges  against  that  gallant  corps,  contained 
in  General  Order  No.  18,  was  well  founded,  and  that  the  first,  and  as  the  stern  trials  of  battles  and 
privations  have  proved,  noble  contribution  of  our  city  to  the  army  ot  the  Union,  will  return  home 
with  its  brilliant  and  heroically  won  fame  undimmed  by  even  a  suspicion  or  rebuke  : 

"  Nothing  of  importance  is  occurring  here,  and  you  owe  this  letter  to  the  late  General  Order 
Nyo.  18,  which  you  have  probably,  seen  in  the  papers  ere  this,  which  takes  from  the  Twenty-First, 
with  several  other  regiments,  the  furlough  privilege,  and  classes  us  among  the  undisciplined,  and  I 
suppose,  demoralized  regiments. 

"  The  facts  of  the  inspection  I  will  briefly  state  as  they  occurred  :  Our  whole  regiment  (with 
the  exception  of  about  one-third),  who  were  off  in  different  places,  guarding  vessels,  steamers, 
catching  deserters  in  Maryland,  etc.,  etc.,  had  just  come  off  guard,  having  been  up  all  night,  and 
had  gone  up  to  camp  in  the  rain,  and  also  had  just  moved  camp  into  a  mud-puddle.  We  were 
without  bunks,  floors,  or  anything  convenient,  when  the  order  came  for  inspection  in  an  hour. 

"  It  had  been  getting  cold  during  the  morning,  and  the  ground  was  quite  frozen  when  the 
inspection  took  place.  The  men  having  no  stoves  or  fires  in  their  tents,  and  no  time  or  convenience 
for  cleaning,  went  on  inspection  as  they  were — quite  muddy.  The  muskets  having  been  out  the 
night  previous,  did  not  look  extraordinary  well.  The  Inspector,  a  lieutenant  on  General  Hooker's 
staff,  was  told  the  circumstances,  but  it  seems  did  not  give  us  the  proper  benefit  of  them.  The  23d> 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  339 

hence,  therefore,  the  citizens  of  Buffalo  may  prepare  for  the  welcome  and  reception 
of  its  first-born  regiment,  and  we  trust  they  will  not  stint  the  honors  due  to  men  who 
bring  the  attestation  of  their  valor  and  heroic  deeds  in  a  flag  fifty-two  times  torn  by 
shot  and  shell. 

And  now  that  their  time  of  service  had  so  nearly  expired,  when 
they  were  so  soon  to  bid  a  final  farewell  to  the  scenes  which  had  been 
their  every-day  life  for  so  long,  to  lay  aside  the  grim  implements  of 
war  and  return  to  their  firesides,  and  for  an  interval,  at  least,  enjoy 
the  rest  and  security  they  had  so  bravely  purchased,  our  battle  worn 
fellows  began  to  give  way  to  that  intense  yearning  they  had  repressed 
so  long.  They  knew  that  their  parents,  their  wives  and  their  little 
ones,  were  counting  the  days  that  must  pass  from  between  them  and 
their  loved  ones. 

With  all  this  feeling  in  his  heart,  and  with  the  pardonable  pride 
of  a  veteran  who  knows  the  deservings  of  himself  and  comrades, 
Chaplain  Robie  thus  writes,  under  date  of  March  i4th  : 

"  On  the  first  of  May  next,  unless  Government  proves  itself  treach 
erous,  which  is  improbable,  we,  officers  and  men  of  the  glorious  old 
Twenty-First,  will  march  up  Main  street  and  wait  the  final  order  of 
our  gallant  Colonel — '  Parade  is  finally  dismissed!'  The  two  years 
for  which  we  enlisted  in  the  State  will  then  have  expired,  and  should 
no  more  inroads  be  made  in  our  ranks,  be  assured  you  will  look  upon 
happier  faces  than  ever  brightened  in  your  eyes  before.  Not  because 
we  have  lost  interest  in  country,  but  because  we  have  not  forgotten 
the  charms  of  home,  the  dear  faces  and  hearts  of  our  loved  ones. 
Already  the  remaining  days  are  counted  by  the  boys.  Some  have 
gone  so  far  as  to  calculate  the  hours  and  minutes  which  are  to  pass. 
In  fact,  a  soldier  met  me  yesterday,  and  said,  '  Chaplain,  only  so 
many  weeks,  days,  hours  and  minutes  are  to  pass  before  we  shall  go 


a  most  excellent  regiment,  and  the  35th  N.  Y.  V.,  also  of  our  brigade,  were  caught  in  the  same  way, 
and  are  included  in  the  unjust  and  unmerited  reproof.  The  2oth  militia  of  our  brigade,  and  the 
poorest  regiment  in  our  brigade  or  division,  had  a  little  more  time  to  prepare,  and  were  not 
mentioned. 

"  The  officers  and  men  feel  terribly  about  it,  and  all  who  know  us,  and  who  are  on  duty  here, 
know  it  is  not  deserved.  We  have  always  had  a  most  excellent  reputation  for  drill,  discipline, 
cleanliness  and  neatness  ;  and  now,  just  on  the  eve  of  leaving  the  service,  to  have  the  public, 
undeserved  and  scorching  criticism  passed  upon  us,  is  mortifying.  Those,  however,  who  know  us, 
know  the  injustice  of  the  report,  and  General  Patrick,  Colonel  Rogers,  and  other  Colonels,  have 
demanded  another  inspection  to  take  place  immediately.  You  may  rest  assured  that  although  doing 
more  work  and  duty  than  any  brigade  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  the  present  time,  and  although 
upon  guard  every  other  day  from  9  A.  M.  in  the  morning  till  9  A.  M.  next  morning,  with  but  little 
time  to  prepare  or  to  have  inspection,  we  can  still  sustain  the  reputation  always,  and  still  possessed 
as  '  Patrick's  old  and  gallant  veterans,'  or  as  General  Paul  expressed  it,  the  '  noble  old  war-worn 
brigade.'  " 


340  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

home.'  Home,  with  men — soldiers  who  have  been  so  long  absent, 
who  have  endured  and  suffered  so  much,  is  dearer,  more  charming 
than  you  can  imagine.  But  some — many — who  left  with  us  are  not 
charmed  with  these  delightful  prospects.  No  sweet  and  joyous 
anticipations  now  thrill  their  bosoms.  They  started  with  us,  hopeful, 
brave,  patriotic.  They  were  our  companions  in  the  march  and  in 
the  right.  With  firm  and  undaunted  step  and  spirit,  they  met  the 
terrible  duty  of  the  warrior.  But  now  they  are  not  with  us  !  The 
bugle  sounds,  but  they  heed  not  its  tones.  Gone  home — gone  to 
their  long,  last  homes  !  Peace  to  their  ashes  !  Their  memories  will 
ever  be  precious  to  us  who  were  their  associates  and  comrades." 

So  the  long  days  wore  on  and  were  gone ;  and  the  time  came 
when  our  sadly  thinned  line  formed  for  its  last  evening  parade  on  the 
hither  border  of  the  land  its  blood  had  so  freely  flowed  to  save.  It 
was  like  a  dream,  a  blissful,  unreal  dream,  from  which  one  dreads, 
yet  expects,  to  wake,  when  at  last  they  found  themslves  once  more 
faced  toward  home  ! 

They  are  coming,  they  are  coming, 

Hear  the  fifing  and  the  drumming ; 
They  have  fought  their  last  battle  and  the  end  is  here  at  hand  : 

And  each  day  they're  drawing  nearer, 

And  each  night  their  fires  are  clearer, 
And  the  sound  of  their  feet  rings  through  all  the  happy  land  ! 

And  the  mother  cannot  sleep — 

All  the  night  her  watch  she'll  keep, 
For  the  day  hath  heard  their  tramping  and  the  night  wind  brings  it  on  ; 

She  can  hardly  weep,  for  joy 

That  they're  bringing  home  her  boy ; 
Her  brave,  her  noble  boy,  and  his  marching  all  is  done  ! 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  341 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


The  Excitement  in  Buffalo. — Action  of  the  Common  Council. — A  vote  of  Thanks. — The  Journey 
Home. — Preparations  f©r  the  Reception. — Order  of  the  Procession. — Arrival  of  the  Train. — 
The  Tumult  of  Welcome. — Our  Progress  through  the  Streets. — Honors  to  Lieutenant 
Mulligan. — Mr.  Beckwith's  Speech. — Colonel  Rogers's  Reply. — Return  of  the  Old  Flag  to 
the  Central  School  by  the  Colonel. — Response  by  Miss  Julia  E.  Paddock. — The  Collation. 


HAVING  no  words  of  my  own  in  which  to  describe  the  events  of 
this   day,   dearest   to   the    memory   of   every   soldier   who 
received  a  part  in  its   honors,  I  cut  the  following  selections  from  the 
reports  made  by  David  Gray  and  Thomas  Kean,  of  the  Courier,  and 
J.  N.  Larned  and  Charles  Stow,  of  the  Express. 

RETURN    AND    RECEPTION    OF    THE    TWENTY-FIRST    REGIMENT. 

The  brightest  and  most  notable  day  in  all  our  local  history,  stands  eclipsed  by 
the  glory  that  haloed  the  event  of  yesterday.  It  seemed  as  if  the  excitement  which 
has  stirred  the  Queen  City  not  seldom  of  late,  when  she  has  sent  her  sons  to  danger 
or  received  them  from  death,  had  its  reaction  yesterday,  in  the  tumultuous  joy  with 
which  she  welcomed  back,  from  its  two  years  of  warfare,  the  noble  remnant  of  the 
Twenty-First  Regiment.  We  can  remember  no  occasion  in  which  the  heart  of  the 
people  so  abandoned  itself  to  the  spirit  of  the  time,  and  with  such  spontaneity,  or  so 
grandly  gave  vent  to  its  emotion.  And  this  for  the  simple  reason,  that  never  has  the 
city  been  called  upon  to  celebrate  an  event  so  truly  impressive  and  moving. 

A  specfal  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  was  called  at  ten  and  a  half  o'clock, 
at  which  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  offered  by  Alderman  Dubois,  were 
unanimously  adopted  : 

Whereas,  The  Twenty-First  Regiment  of  N.  Y.  S.  Volunteers,  recruited  mainly 
in  this  city  and  county,  has  completed  its  term  of  service,  and  is  this  day  to  return  to 
be  mustered  out;  and 

Whereas,  The  citizens  of  this  city  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  regiment; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Council  hereby  tender  its  thanks  to  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  regiment,  for  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  the  Constitution  and  the 
enforcement  of  the  laws;  for  their  brave  and  heroic  conduct  in  the  field;  for  then- 
sacrifices  on  behalf  of  the  cause  of  nationality,  unity  and  national  life. 

Resolved,  That  while  deploring  the  absence  from  the  ranks  of  those  who  have 
lost  their  lives  in  battle,  or  have  died  in  hospitals,  we,  as  the  representatives  of  the 
municipal  government  of  the  city,  do  cordially  join  in  the  joy  of  our  citizens  in  the 


342  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

cordial  welcome  to  the  surviving  members  of  the  regiment,  emphasizing  the  assurance 
that,  whether  they  resume  their  places  as  citizens  of  a  State  that  has  never  faltered  in 
the  support  of  the  Government,  or  again  take  up  arms  to  aid  in  suppressing  the 
rebellion  and  restoring  the  Union  "  as  it  was,"  they  have  earned  the  lasting  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  patriotic  men. 

Resolved,  That  this  Council,  as  a  token  of  their  regard  to  men  who  have 
periled  their  lives  in  defence  of  constitutional  liberty,  do  now  adjourn,  for  the  purpose 
of  taking  part  in  the  public  exercises  which  a  grateful  people  have  improvised  to 
show,  in  some  degree,  their  appreciation  of  gallantry  in  the  field  and  uniform  soldier 
like  deportment. 

THE    JOURNEY    HOME. 

The  Twenty-First,  as  is  already  known,  started  from  Washington  on  Saturday, 
eleven  days  in  advance  of  the  expiration  of  its  legal  term  of  service.  About  noon  on 
Saturday  it  reached  Williamsport.  Colonel  Rogers  had  telegraphed  in  advance  to 
have  some  refreshments  provided.  The  telegraph  was  read  in  the  several  churches, 
and  the  people  rose  en  masse  to  prepare  for  the  arrival  of  the  returning  soldiers.  A 
bountiful  collation  was  set  at  the  depot,  and  the  Regiment,  after  receiving  the  most 
enthusiastic  demonstrations  at  the  hands  of  the  kind-hearted  and  patriotic  Williams- 
porters,  came  on  its  way  rejoicing.  About  fifty  of  the  discharged  members  of  the 
Twenty-First,  left  here  on  Saturday  night  for  Elmira,to  extend  a  foretaste  of  welcome 
to  their  old  brothers  in  arms,  and  these,  with  a  number  of  other  citizens,  were  duly 
on  hand  when  the  train  came  in  at  six  o'clock,  Sunday  night.  The  reception  there 
is  described  as  having  been  most  enthusiastic.  The  people  turned  out  in  such  crowds 
that  it  was  difficult  for  the  Regiment  to  march  to  the  Brainard  House,  where  it  had 
quarters  for  the  night. *  The  ex-members  of  the  Regiment,  many  of  them  still 
suffering  from  the  effects  of  wounds  received  in  the  service,  wore  a  badge,  including 
a  small  ambrotype  of  Colonel  Rogers,  and  bearing  the  motto,  "  Welcome  Home, 
Old  Comrades!  " 

In  the  morning  the  journey  homeward  was  resumed,  and  all  along  the  road, 
crowds  were  at  the  depots  to  welcome  the  veterans  with  cheers  and  other  testimonials 
of  their  gratification.  At  Le  Roy,  especially,  the  country  seemed  to  be  on  fire  with 
excitement,  and  a  salute  of  artillery  was  fired  as  our  brave  men  came  into  the  depot. 
The  train  was  delayed  somewhat,  on  account  of  a  heated  wheel,  so  that  it  was  five 
o'clock,  instead  of  three,  P.  M.,  before  the  expectant  multitude  at  the  New  York 
&  Erie  depot,  gave  its  initiative  shout  of  welcome. 

PREPARATIONS    FOR    THE    RECEPTION. 

With  yesterday  morning  began  the  most  active  preparation  for  the  event  of  the 
afternoon.  Liberal  contributions  of  eatables  were  sent  in  to  the  Arsenal ;  the 
committees  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  busily  at  work  with  their  several  duties ; 
flags  were  soon  floating  over  every  other  building  in  the  city,  as  well  as  from  the 
throng  of  shipping  in  the  harbor,  and  the  decoration  of  Main  street  began.  The 
latter  feature  was  one  of  the  noticeable  things  of  the  day.  Standing  at  any  point  on 

*A  mistake.  The  officers,  some  of  them,  quartered  at  this  house  but  the  Regiment  was 
marched  out  to  its  old  barracks,  which  were  yet  standing,  and  there  passed  the  last  night  of  its 
experience  as  a  command,  in  reminiscence,  upon  the  spot  which  saw  it  first. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  343 

Main  street,  the  effect  was  singularly  beautiful.  Several  of  the  largest  blocks  were 
tastefully  ornamented  with  flags  and  bunting;  the  fronts  of  Hamlin  &  Mendsen's, 
Sherman  &  Barnes',  and  Howard  &  Whitcomb's  establishments  being  especially 
ornate.  The  Weed  Block  was  elegantly  festooned,  also,  as  were  the  stores  of  M. 
H.  Birge  &  Co.,  Blodgett  &  Bradford,  and  many  others.  The  mottoes,  "Welcome 
Twenty- First !"  "Welcome  Home!"  and  similar  expressions  of  the  universal 
feeling,  were  also  plenteously  displayed.  Besides  these,  there  were  flags  of  every 
size, — the  red,  white  and  blue  in  every  form, — fluttering  from  nearly  every  window 
up  and  down  the  street,  the  whole,  lighted  up  by  the  May  sunshine,  making  a  coiip 
(Taeil  we  have  never  seen  surpassed  in  the  city. 

THE    PROCESSION. 

In  the  afternoon  the  city  put  on  its  fullest  holiday  attire.  Work  was  suspended  ; 
the  stores  closed,  or  kept  open  only  for  the  accommodation  of  spectators  ;  every 
available  window  along  the  route  of  the  procession  was  filled,  and  the  sidewalks 
were  crowded  from  Main  street  to  the  Square.  Between  one  and  two  o'clock,  the 
various  organizations  began  to  form  at  their  appointed  stations  in  the  vicinity  of  Niagara 
Square.  At  half- past  two  o'clock  the  line  was  formed,  and  started  up  Niagara  to 
Main,  down  Main  to  Swan,  along  Swan  to  Chicago,  down  Chicago  to  Exchange, 
up  Exchange,  till  the  right  had  reached  Main  street,  at  which  time  the  left  or  rear 
rested  at  the  depot.  From  the  depot  to  Main,  accordingly,  was  the  length  of  the 
cortege. f 

AT    HOME. 

At  five  o'clock, — railroad  time, — as  the  train  appeared  far  down  the  tracks,  the 
vast  crowd  cheered  lustly.  The  artillerists  began  firing,  and  amid  the  long  familiar 
booming  of  cannon,  and  the  welcome  cheers  of  old  friends,  the  train  came  to  a  stop, 
and  the  veterans  were  once  more  at  home.  No  words  can  convey  an  adequate 
impression  of  the  tumult  of  joy  that  swept  through  the  bosoms  of  both  the  welcomers 
and  welcomed.  It  broke  forth  in  shouts  from  ten  thousand  throats,  and  mingled  the 
hoarse  cheers  of  strong  men,  with  the  voices  of  women  and  children.  The  procession 
had  drawn  up  on  Exchange  street,  and  was  faced  southward,  awaiting  the  formation 


f  The  column  was  composed  in  the  following  order  : 

Marshal  of  the  day,  Col.  H.  G.  Thomas  ;  assistants,  Lieut.  Col.  Alberger  and  Capt.  Canfield. 

Miller's  Band — 18  instruments. 

Union  Continentals — commanded  by  Hon.  Millard  Fillmore. 

The  Tigers— Capt.  W.  T.  Wardwell. 

A  squad  of  the  Sprague  Light  Cavalry,  on  foot. 

Fire  Department — Chief  Engineer,  T.  B.  French,  and  assistants  John  T.  Spaulding  and 
Jacob  Kimberly,  Jr 

Hook  and  Ladder  No.  i — Walter  Savits,  Foreman,  and  31  men. 

Taylor  Hose  No.  i— J.  B.  Sage,  Foreman,  and  25  men. 

Perkins'  Band  from  Rochester — a  very  fine  Band  of  15  instruments — preceding  Eagle  Hose 
No.  2 — H.  H.  Clapp,  Foreman,  with  38  men.  The  Hose  Carriage  bore  the  following  inscription, 
"Our  Band  of  Heroes  is  Unbroken  !  "  This  company  sent  8  members  with  the  Twenty-First,  all 
of  whom  are  living. 

National  Drum  Corps. 

Neptune  Hose  No.  5 — W.  S.  Sage,  Foreman,  and  25  men.  Their  pretty  blue  Hose  Cart  was 
tastefully  decorated  with  garlands  of  flowers,  and  a  beautiful  silk  flag. 

Niagara  Hose  No.  7 — Andrew  Cable,  Foreman,  and  29  men.  The  cart  bore  the  inscription, 
"  Welcome  to  the  Twenty-First  !  " 


344  CHRONICLES     OF     THE 

of  the  Twenty-First,  which  Regiment  formed  in  the  depot,  in  a  marvelously 
brief  time,  and  directly  the  sound  of  martial  music  proclaimed  to  the  expectant  host 
that  the  veterans  were  in  motion. 

The  bronzed  heroes  marched  steadily  out,  and  although,  doubtless,  yearning  to 
clasp  friends  and  loved  ones  to  their  hearts,  no  swerving  or  faltering  in  the  regularity 
of  the  march  was  discernible,  and  as  firmly  as  if  going  into  battle  the  column  moved 
up  Exchange  street,  the  military  presenting  arms  and  the  civic  societies  and  people 
cheering  tumultuously.  Such  wild  enthusiasm  was  never  before  witnessed  in  Buffalo. 
If  anything  could  have  added  to  the  general  gratification,  it  was  the  splendid  appear 
ance  of  the  Twenty-First,  from  Colonel  Rogers  to  the  last  man  in  the  ranks.  They 
looked  bronzed  and  travel-stained,  yet  erect,  and  strong,  and  stern.  The  old  battle 
flag  was  borne  proudly,  and  all  eyes  looked  gratitude  and  pride  as  they  turned  toward 
its  tattered  and  bullet-torn  folds.  The  eagle,  that  once  adorned  the  staff,  was  gone — 
shot  away  at  Bull  Run.  Many  a  one  looked  vainly  for  those  "  whose  bodies  lie 
buried  in  Virginian  graves,"  yet  a  feeling  of  joy  overtopped  all  other  emotions,  and 
it  was  the  pride  and  pomp  of  war,  as  well  as  devout  gratitude,  that  animated  all 
hearts. 

When  the  Twenty- First  had  reached  the  head  of  the  column,  it  halted,  and 
the  procession  faced  to  the  right,  and  marched  past  the  Twenty-First,  again  greeting 
it  with  every  evidence  of  welcome.  The  Twenty-First  then  fell  in  at  the  rear,  and 
the  procession  took  up  its  line  of  march,  proceeding  up  Main  to  Court,  down  Court 
to  Delaware,  up  Delaware  to  Johnson  Park,  around  the  Park,  up  Delaware  to 
Tupper,  through  Tupper  to  Main,  down  Main  to  Clinton,  through  Clinton  to  Wash 
ington,  up  Washington  and  down  Batavia  street  to  the  Arsenal. 

All  along  the  route,  every  available  space  in  the  street,  doors,  windows  and 
yards,  was  crowded  with  people  endeavoring  to  express,  in  every  conceivable  manner, 
their  joy  at  the  return  of  the  Regiment ;  cheers  that  had  a  taste  of  tears,  and  silent 
gestures  of  welcome,  greeted  the  troops  at  every  point.  The  eye  met,  everywhere, 
banners  and  flags  and  colored  festoons,  as  the  column  proceed  up  Main  street. 
Probably  so  large  a  concourse  of  people  never  before  assembled  upon  any  occasion 

Hydraulic  Engine  No.  9 — John  Broder,  Foreman,  and  48  men. 

Columbia  Hose  No.  n,  with  Hose  Cart — H.  O.  Dee,  Foreman,  and  40  men. 

Steamer  C.  J.  Wells,  drawn  by  four  white  horses,  and  the  machine  decorated  with  evergreens 
and  flags. 

Steamers  Niagara,  Seneca,  Huron  and  Perry,  decorated  with  flags. 

Eight  carriages,  containing  the  Mayor,  Common  Council  and  invited  guests. 

American  Express  Co.'s  wagon,  containing  Teachers  of  Public  Schools,  and  drawn  by  six 
horses. 

Sangerbund  Society — 50  members — Ernest  Besser,  President. 

Two  vans,  each  drawn  by  four  white  horses,  and  containing  34  young  ladies  of  the  Central 
School,  dressed  in  red,  white  and  blue,  representing  the  entire  Union  of  States. 

Sixty-Fifth  Regimental  Band. 

Sixty-Fifth  Regiment — Col.  Jacob  Krettner — 500  men  in  platoons  as  follows  :  Cavalry  Co— 
Capt.  J.  Kann  ;  Co.  "B" — Lieut.  Graff  commanding  ;  Co.  "F" — Capt.  Irlbacker;  Co.  "  D  "- 
Capt.  Geyer;  Co.  "A"— Capt.  Sieber  ;  Co.  "  E  "—Capt..  Becker  ;  Co.  "  G  "—Lieut.  Retel  com 
manding;  Co.  "R" — Capt.  Scheaffer;  Artillery — Capt.  Philip  Houck — with  drawn  sabers; 
Lansing  Zouaves— Capt.  W.  H.  Wells. 

Seventy-Fourth  Regiment — Col.  W.  A.  Fox — 300  men.  Cavalry  Co — Capt.  A.  Sloan  ;  Drum 
Corps:  Co.  "  C  "— Capt.  J.  U.  Wayland  ;  Co.  "  B  "—Lieut.  G.  A.  Torrance  ;  Co.  "G"— Capt. 
Kester;  Co.  "  E  "— Capt.  Clingen  ;  Co.  "  A  "—Lieut.  J.  C.  Nagel ;  Co.  "  D  "—Lieut.  Baker;  Co. 
"  F  "—Capt.  H.  Sloan. 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  345 

in  this  city,  nor  was  there  ever  such  enthusiasm,  patriotism  and  gratitude  offered,  or 
more  worthily  bestowed  than  yesterday. 

The-most  affecting  scene  of  all — the  most  touching  we  ever  witnessed — was 
that  when,  as  the  head  of  the  procession  turned  into  Johnson  Place  to  move  around 
the  Park,  Lieutenant  J.  S.  Mulligan  was  brought  out  upon  the  balcony  of  his  residence 
to  give  his  welcome  to  his  old  comrades,  from  whom  he  was  separated  after  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  by  severe  wounds.  As  the  long  cortege  passed  by, 
greeting  the  gallant  young  soldier  with  silent  salutes  and  hearty  cheers,  his  emotion 
was  profound,  but  his  eyes  eagerly  looked  for  the  old  flag  and  the  familiar  forms  of 
his  old  associates.  When  the  Twenty-First  had  passed,  saluting  as  it  went,  his 
emotion  overcame  him,  and  his  bowed  head  was  the  best  evidence  how  the  compli 
ment  had  touched  him. 

There  was  no  lack  of  incidents  of  a  poetic  and  pathetic  character.  Many  of 
the  brave  fellows  received  bouquets  of  flowers  from  fair  women,  whose  eyes  had  shed 
a  heavenly  dew  upon  the  blossoms  :  no  doubt  the  aroma  of  those  flowers  was  grateful 
to  the  weary  veterans.  Women  marched  hand  in  hand  with  their  restored  husbands 
and  sons,  and  wept  with  overpowering  joy,  as  they  had  scarcely  wept  with  grief  when 
they  sent  them  forth  to  battle  for  the  Union. 

THE  WELCOME  AT  THE  ARSENAL. 

The  admirable  order  which  characterized  the  whole  difficult  affair,  was 
particularly  observable  in  the  management  of  the  proceedings  at  the  Arsenal.  Not 
withstanding  the  presence  of  an  immense  and  impatient  crowd,  the  entire  square  was 
kept  perfectly  cleared  by  the  police  and  a  detachment  of  cavalry,  until  the  arrival  of 
the  procession,  and  no  difficulty  was  experienced  in  deploying  it  for  the  ceremonies. 

As  the  procession  entered  the  square  another  salute  was  fired  by  the  battery. 

The  65th  and  74th  Regiments  were  formed  on  the  left  front ;  the  Fire  Depart 
ment  on  the  right;  the  Twenty-First  moving  up  between  in  line  of  battle  to  the 
platform,  erected  against  the  north  front  of  the  Arsenal,  with  the  Independent 
Military  Companies  in  the  rear.  The  officers  of  the  Twenty-First  then  advanced 
from  the  line  to  the  steps  of  the  platform,  when  they  were  addressed  by  acting  Mayor 
Beckwith,  as  follows : 

MR.  BECKWITH' s  SPEECH. 

Welcome  Colonel !  Welcome  Officers!  Soldiers  of  the  brave,  the  steady,  the 
inflexible  and  now  all  glorious  Twenty-First,  the  heart  of  a  grateful  people,  bids  you 
welcome.  The  municipality  of  Buffalo  hails  your  return  with  public  thanks;  a 
hundred  thousand  souls  to-day  exult  together  at  your  coming.  The  aged  and  the 
venerable  amongst  us  approach  with  tearful  pride  to  bless  you.  The  young  hasten 
with  quickening  joy  to  give  greeting.  The  fair  and  the  beautiful  of  the  city  are 
bearing  garlands  for  the  brave.  The  schools  and  public  institutions  come  in  bodies, 
to  make  their  offerings  of  gratitude  and-honor.  The  busy  hum  of  industry  ceases  ; 
the  votaries  of  gain  forget  their  worship ;  labor,  for  a  season,  unbends  its  exacting 
task;  even  august  justice  bars  her  temple  to-day,  to  join  in  the  universal  homage  due 
to  men  who  have  perilled  their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  country. 

Soldiers,  no  triumphal  entry  of  the  most  renowned  Conqueror  of  ancient  Rome, 
ever  equalled  in  moral  grandeur  that  ovation  of  the  heart  which  a  grateful  community 
renders  you  this  day. 


346  CHRONICLES     OF    THE 

The  remarkable  exhibition  of  public  pride  and  public  respect  which  you  here 
behold,  honors  you,  not  merely  as  brave  men,  but  as  men  brave  in  a  noble  cause ;  not  as 
the  obedient  followers  of  some  conquering  hero,  but  as  the  self  prompted  heroes  of 
nine  contested  fields,  where  the  fate  of  your  country  was  sought  to  be  decided ;  not 
as  veterans  of  the  battle  field  alone,  but  as  men  who.  upon  the  perilous  march,  in  the 
performance  of  the  irksome  duties  of  the  camp,  everywhere,  upon  all  occasions  have 
covered  yourselves  with  imperishable  glory  and  reflected  lustre  upon  the  name  and 
character  of  the  city  of  your  origin.  The  cause  in  which  you  have  been  engaged  is 
emphatically  the  cause  of  your  country.  When,  two  years  ago,  the  tocsin  tolled  the 
alarm  throughout  the  land,  that  the  noble  fabric  of  Constitutional  liberty  erected  by 
your  fathers  was  in  danger,  with  an  appreciate  sense  of  the  value  of  good  and  wise 
government,  you  were  among  the  first  to  rush  to  arms  and  to  face  the  perils  of  war, 
not  for  any  emolument  for  yourselves,  but  in  the  noble  endeavor  to  preserve  for 
posterity  those  institutions  which  the  wisdom  of  your  ancestors  provided  for  you. 
This  was  noble  action,  this  was  heroic  action.  This  is  patriotism,  this  is  genuine 
patriotism.  In  my  humble  judgment,  to  the  reflecting  mind,  conduct  like  this  attains 
unto  the  sublime.  It  is  exalted  conduct  moving  upon  a  principle ;  conduct  which  in 
all  times,  in  every  age,  throughout  the  world,  must  attract  the  admiration  and  secure 
che  approving  judgment  of  universal  mankind. 

One  reflection  only  clouds  this  glorious  occasion.  Among  this  vast  concourse 
of  people  who  surround  you,  stand  many  with  mourning  hearts,  who  vainly  glance 
along  your  lines  in  search  of  familiar  faces  and  familiar  forms.  Let  us  hope  that  those 
of  your  number  who  have  fallen,  whether  upon  the  field  of  battle,  or  overcome  by 
the  enemy's  chief  ally — that  devouring  python  which  lurks  in  concealing  cloud  and 
vapor,  amid  the  malarious  swamps,  along  the  deadly  water  courses  of  the  South — 
the  once  friendly,  now  implacable  South — have  not  died  in  vain.  Let  us  trust  that 
in  the  mysterious  economy  of  an  inscrutable  Providence,  their  deaths  may  be  conse 
crated  to  the  attainment  of  that  grand  conclusion  in  the  affairs  of  our  country,  for 
which  they  braved  the  dangers  of  war,  and  surrendered,  some  of  them,  even  in  the 
charmed  period  of  auspicious  youth,  their  tenures  upon  life. 

But  soldiers,  you  have  returned  not  only  to  the  reception  of  public  honors,  but 
to  seek  the  communion  of  those  nearer  and  dearer  to  you.  Even  while  I  am 
addressing  you,  I  know  that  hallowed  voices  are  whispering  to  your  hearts  of  home, 
wife,  children,  parents,  kindred.  I  am  admonished  not  to  trespass  by  extended 
remarks  upon  the  sacred  demands  of  an  hour  like  this. 

Once  more  then,  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  noble  Twenty-First,  in  the  name 
of  the  people  of  Buffalo,  whom  you  have  honored,  I  bid  you  welcome.  Welcome  ! 
Welcome  !  Welcome  to  the  enviable  rewards  of  public  respect  and  lasting  public 
gratitude. 

The  feelings  of  the  assemblage  broke  out  in  cheers,  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
address,  and  when  these  subsided,  Colonel  Rogers  made  reply  in  substantially  the 
following  language,  the  pressure  and  tumult  rendering  it  difficult  to  report  his 
heartfelt  words  : 

COLONEL  ROGERS'  REPLY. 

I  have  no  words  in  which  to  express  my  gratitude  for  a  reception  so  grand,  so 
far  exceeding  my  expectation  as  this.  The  magnitude  of  the  demonstration  has  taken 
from  me  the  power  of  speech.  You  have  praised  us  for  the  service  we  have 


TWENTY-FIRST     REGIMENT.  347 

performed.  We  have  only  done  our  duty — a  duty  which  every  citizen  owes  to  a 
government  whose  blessings  he  enjoys.  When  that  government  is  in  danger  it  is 
but  just  that  those  whom  it  has  protected  should  go  forth  in  its  defence;  such  was 
the  position  in  which  we  placed  ourselves  two  years  ago.  We  have  endeavored  to 
do  our  duty,  and  now  that  it  is  ended  we  feel  amply  repaid  for  the  toil  of  long 
marches,  the  hardships  of  the  bivouac  and  the  peril  of  the  battle  field,  in  the  fact 
that  at  last  we  are  at  home  and  looking  in  the  faces  of  those  whom  we  love.  It  is 
sufficient  for  us  that  you  have  expressed,  in  so  magnificent  a  manner,  the  joy  you  feel 
at  our  return,  and  that  we  are  able  to  say  to  you  that  we  have  done  our  duty. 

In  the  name  of  the  regiment,  I  thank  you  all  for  this  splendid  reception. 

Three  rousing  cheers  were  again  given  for  the  Twenty-First. 

THE  RETURN  OF  THE  FLAG  TO  THE  CENTRAL  SCHOOL. 

The  gloriously  dilapidated  old  flag  of  the  Twenty-First,  torn,  tattered,  scarred 
and  blood  stained,  was  now  brought  forward  by  Colonel  Rogers,  and  returned  to  its 
original  donors,  the  young  ladies  of  the  Central  School,  who  occupied  the  platform. 
It  was  gracefully  received,  in  behalf  of  the  school,  by  Miss  Julia  E.  Paddock,  who 
responded  to  the  brief  but  eloquent  speech  of  the  Colonel,  as  follows: 

MISS  PADDOCK'S  ADDRESS. 

SOLDIERS  AND  FRIENDS  : — You  need  no  public  demonstration  to  assure  you 
of  your  welcome.  You  know  that  we  are  happy  to  have  you  among  us  again.  That 
we  are  proud  of  the  honor  you  have  achieved.  Two  years  ago,  in  the  beautiful  spring 
time,  when  the  trees  were  budding,  the  birds  singing,  the  flowers  bursting  into  bloom, 
you  left  us  with  the  flag  of  our  country  in  your  hands, — the  love  of  that  flag  in  your 
hearts.  How  nobly  you  have  sustained  your  principles — how  bravely  you  have 
defended  that  flag — your  war-scarred  visages — your  decimated  ranks  and  many  a 
kindly  face  and  noble  heart  lying  on  the  battle  fields  of  Antietam  and  Bull  Run,  bear 
evidence.  Soldiers  of  the  Twenty-First  Regiment,  we  are  proud  of  you  as  a  regiment, 
we  honor  and  respect  you  as  men.  You  have  proved  yourselves  actors,  not  talkers, 
when  your  country  and  your  duty  called  you.  There  are  proud  hearts  and  glad 
hearts  in  this  assemblage  to-day;  but  there  are  many  sorrowful  hearts  also.  Many 
of  our  young  men  went  forth  to  the  battle  fields — but  few  have  returned.  We 
sincerely  mourn  the  loss  of  our  gallant  dead,  but  there  is  consolation  mingled  with 
our  sorrow.  Voluntarily  they  laid  their  lives  upon  their  country's  altar ;  God 
accepted  the  sacrifice,  and  early  and  honorable  their  career  has  closed.  Their  names 
are  recorded  as  lovers  of  our  country.  Their  memory  shall  be  sacredly  preserved 
among  us.  Soldiers!  The  Queen  of  the  Lakes  is  proud  of  her  honored  sons. 
God's  own  beautiful  day  smiles  down  upon  us,  and  even  old  Erie  ripples  out  gladness 
and  welcomes  on  every  wave.  Better,  far  better,  than  all,  you  have  within  your  own 
hearts  the  consciousness  of  a  duty  well  performed,  to  your  manhood,  your  country, 
and  your  God. 

You  have  returned  with  the  old  flag.  We  feel  assured  that  you  will  protect — 
revere  it.  It  could  remain  in  no  worthier  hands. 

Miss  Paddock  performed  her  part  in  this  beautiful  ceremony  with  exquisite 
grace,  and  no  incident  of  the  reception  was  more  happy  in  effect.  She  was  appro 
priately  attired  to  represent  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  and  the  company  of  young 
ladies  surrounding  her  were  all  in  white,  with  tri-colored  scarfs  upon  their  shoulders. 


348  CHRONICLES    OF     THE 

Immediately  upon  the  conclusion  of  the  responsive  address,  the  fair  choir,  under  the 
leadership  of  Mr.  Everett  L.  Baker,  broke  into  singing  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner," 
and  the  vast  crowd  hushed  its  murmurings  to  listen.  Cheers  followed,  and  the 
doors  of  the  Arsenal  were  now  thrown  open  to  admit  the  tired  heroes  of  the  occasion, 
to  the  feast  prepared  for  them  by  the  good  ladies  of  the  city. 

THE    COLLATION. 

Busy  hands  had  been  at  work  all  day,  making  hasty  preparations  for  refreshing 
the  travel-wearied  regiment,  and  long  tables  were  burdened  with  every  imaginable 
delicacy,  in  abundance  enough  to  have  sated  a  thousand  men,  while  a  host  of  fair 
attendants  were  in  waiting  to  serve  the  bountiful  repast.  When  the  regiment  had 
entered  the  room  and  formed  at  the  tables  it  was  briefly  and  appropriately  welcomed 
by  Dr.  Lord,  in  behalf  of  the  ladies.  All  ceremony  then  ceased,  and  the  next  half 
hour  was  delightfully  spent  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  good  things  set  forth  upon  the 
tables  and  in  the  exchanging  of  congratulations  of  friends.  The  warmth  and 
earnestness  of  the  greetings  to  be  witnessed  on  every  hand — the  nervous  hand 
clasping  and  the  fervent  "  God  bless  you's" — were  deeply  affecting.  The  subject  of  it 
all  were  full  to  the  brim  with  emotion;  their  bronzed  faces  shone  with  happy 
excitement,  and  their  eyes  glistened  with  a  moisture  which  it  seemed  hard  for  them 
to  keep  from  gathering  into  tears.  Meanwhile  a  delightful  accompaniment  to  the 
happy  scene  was  furnished  by  the  Continental  Glee  Club  and  the  Union  Cornet  Band, 
alternately,  singing  and  playing  the  national  airs  and  patriotic  songs.  When  justice 
had  been  clone  to  the  ladies'  collation,  Colonel  Rogers  dismissed  the  regiment  with 
the  welcome  announcement  to  men  and  officers,  that  they  were  at  entire  liberty  for 
three  days,  but  were  recuiired  to  report  at  the  Arsenal  on  Thursday  afternoon,  at  four 
o'clock,  when,  we  suppose,  the  formalities  of  mustering  out  will  be  gone  through 
with. 

So  terminated  the  proceedings  of  an  occasion  more  magnificent  in  its  outward 
features,  and  grander  in  its  moral  aspect,  than  Buffalo  ever  saw  in  all  her  previous 
history.  We  have  but  feebly  depicted  it — the  thousand  incidents  which  contribute  to 
its  sublime  effect,  and  wrought  the  intense  emotion  connected  with  it,  could  not  be 
caught  by  the  reporting  pencil,  and  cannot  be  preserved,  as  we  wish  they  might  be, 
for  history. 


And,  from  morn  till  night,  the  street 

Knows  the  sound  of  marching  feet 
Where  they  come,  battle  burnt,  dusty  footed,  grim  and  brown, 

And  battered  eagles  born 

On  the  tattered  banners,  torn 
In  many  a  fearful  fight,  sweep  thro'  all  the  town. 

They  have  come,  they  have  come, 

Hush,  the  bugle  and  the  drum, 
There  is  peace  in  our  borders  and  content  in  all  the  land, 

And  'tis  given,  for  a  sign 

That  the  sword  shall  prune  the  vine, 
And  the  spear  guide  the  ox,  where  our  garnered  sheaves  shall  stand. 


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Deserted  Dec.  5,  1862  ;  returned  under  Pres 
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of  term. 

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[from  wounds  received  in  action 
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U.  S.  A.,  for  disability. 
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Dec.  5,  '62,  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  for  disability. 
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tion  at  Bull  Run,  Aug,  30,  '62, 
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ransf  d  to  Rip  Raps,  in  arrest,  Aug.  20,  ' 
rum'd  out  camp,  Ft.  Runyon,  Va.,Aug.24 
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20,  1861. 

ed  of  fever  at  Wash'ton,  D.  C.,  Sept.  9,  ' 
led  of  fever  at  Camp  Rufus  King,  m 
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r  h  i,  1863,  from  Washington,  D.  C. 
arch  i,  1863,  from  Washington,  D.  C. 
ov.  12.  1861,  from  Upton's  Hill,  Va. 
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